We ventured on a family outing on Sunday with one of Big Sis’ favorite friends, the 4 year old boy next door. It could well be the last time we take an extra kid anywhere - until our hand is forced and we buy that 7 seater family van - but let’s not think about it yet (the mere speculation gives me the shivers)!
DSO enjoys our car’s automatic sunroof. I on the other hand spend my days minimising sun exposure for the family and really only appreciate it at night, in the middle of summer!
It was a touchstone moment when DSO opened the sunroof and glanced over his shoulder expectantly to hear the - “Wow, that’s cool!” and “I love your car! ” erupt from our 4 year old passenger.
DSO smiled and nodded, looking pleased - but his face quickly fell as realisation dawned:
“I can’t believe I’m trying to impress a 4 year old with the features of my car!”, DSO exclaimed.
No DSO, neither can I - but when you spend the majority of your time with under 5’s I think it’s inevitable, and on the upside they are a pretty receptive audience!
family car, family drive, sunroof
September 17th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Impressing the kids…
When you spend a lot of time with preschoolers suddenly their opinions start to matter!…
September 17th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
I just wanted to use the skyroof (the radiation neutral tag for “sunroof”) once in a while. Is that so wrong? You know, it wasn’t the approval of the child that I sought - though it was clearly a bonus - but perhaps the impropriety was the using the presence of the 4yo to stiffle protest to opening the said skyroof.
As humbling as the conduct might be, it should be seen in the context of more positive achievements on the weekend: I changed all three consumable elements of a standard household water faucet (i.e. I changed a washer)! The punchline of an old joke comes to mind where worldclass achievments are overshaddowed by an error of judgment involving a goat…
September 17th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
my daughter had a similar experience when she got in my neighbors car. thanks for the memory.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Aww, that’s so cute and funny! I agree, when you spend time with young children, suddenly the fact that you can do something to make them happy is like winning the lottery.
September 18th, 2007 at 6:59 am
DSO, nothing is quite as exciting as someone appreciating the small things - not that I’m saying your skyroof is in any way undersized of course …
September 18th, 2007 at 7:46 am
And for the record I will acknowledge that DSO did change a washer and that not only did it impress our 4 year old neighbor but I was pretty excited as well!
September 19th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Go for it, DSO. And if you can still get the word “cool” tossed in your general direction when they get past 10 years old, you’ll be a true Great in the parenting world!
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:43 am
Good point Pete. We haven’t reached that stage yet - but I believe it is the holy grail!