I happened upon a cute store the other day. It’s called “So Childish” and it’s next to the Big Kitchen Café at the corner of 30th and Grape (you know, where the clock tower is).

I don’t have kids and I’m not a real kid-eager person, but when I went in this store I was charmed immediately. Leyla Chavez is the owner and she has made the space (it just opened a few weeks ago) into a kid’s dream. There are beautiful and fun toys, plus two side rooms where Chavez plans to hold classes for parents.

Hanging in the window are retro metal tricycles like I had when I was a kid. She said they are selling like crazy because people want to buy what they had for their kids. (I do miss my Lite Brite!)

I loved the sassy little T-shirts with sayings like “My dad’s a geek” and “I party naked.”

One thing I noticed is the store, which is fairly large, is set up like a gift shop rather than a toy store. Most toy stores are wall-to-wall stuff, but So Childish had all the merchandise set in displays. Items were grouped by topic or theme rather than having a giant wall of books, for example. There was no big bin of stuffed animals either (I always feel sorry for them, crammed in there like that!).

I watched two little girls playing while I was there. One was about two and her name was Serena, her very pregnant mom told me. Serena seemed enchanted with everything she touched.

The other was a nine-month-old who was as tall as Serena. Her name was Madeline, her dad said as he tried to keep her upright, like a Weeble (remember those?). She gently hugged all of the stuffed animals as she came upon them, one by one.

As I said, I’m not one who “oohs” and “aahs” over kids or kid stuff. But watching those girls, and looking around that shop, gave me a few moments of joy and peace. I realized all over again how simple life is. It really comes down to taking the time to enjoy the small things.