As every normal three-and-a-half-year old boy, Niccolo has other interests beyond painting and penning words. The reason I rarely write about them is that they are my husband’s preserve. I am “books and crafts” mummy, he is “football and motors” papa. Beyond the odd occasion when I read Nicco Lightning McQueen’s story or show him a Ferrari video, I am rarely called upon to talk cars, motorbikes or football players because the little one has quickly latched on my profound ignorance of all three subjects (to the point that when he does ask a question such as: is this Colin Edwards‘ motorbike, and I dare pipe up an answer, he double checks with his father).

Over the last few days, however, Niccolo has started mixing his interests with gusto. First he decided he wanted to write Lamborghini. A feat for anyone at best of times, and particularly so for a preschooler who had only managed 5-letter words until then. It took a couple of attempts and a bit of coaching on my part, but I am happy to report he has now succeeded, and even progressed on to writing Ferrari and BMW 55 (numbers included). This, you will note, all happened sooner than he managed to write his own full name, which he only mastered last night.

Learning to write the really important words in life: Ferrari

Then he decided he wanted to draw Colin Edwards and his motorbike. Now, I can sketch some cartoon cats, the odd mouse and maybe a monkey if it needs be but I have never been able to draw a motorbike in my entire life, so I was no help whatsoever. The best I could do was to get one of his toy Yamahas and tell him to try and copy it. Put it this way: what he produced was a very abstract version of a motorbike but it was significantly better and more recognisably motorbikey than the figure he drew on top of it looked human.

Colin Edwards and his motorbike (with a bit of fantasy…)

I am not sure what this says about my son…