Cavin and I had our nephew Andrew spend a few days with us over the weekend, which was the usual bundle of rambunctious 9-year-old fun and games, with a lot of Wii Sports Resort (verdict: fun) along with some reading and math homework. Starting Sunday off with a trip to the Air & Space Museum and ending the day with a trip to a friend's swimming pool reminded me of how awesome it is to be a kid on a summer's day, even a slightly rainy one.
A few things I learned:
-- When you get in a full-motion flight simulator and let the 9-year-old boy take the "flight" controls, he will invariably cause the machine to flip and roll as fast and as often as possible. Make sure your stomach is prepared. (I finally had to pull rank and seize control before I passed out from all the blood rushing to my head.)
-- I remember having movie and television tie-ins at bookstores when I was growing up, but I just don't remember it being as oppressive as it is now. I finally had to lay down the law that I absolutely will not buy anything related to a Nickelodeon show, a Disney movie or a Nintendo video game. I'm trying to get the kid to learn how to enjoy reading a book because it's a book, not because it's going to make him ask me to follow-up on it by buying another video game.
-- I had a free-burrito coupon for Chipotle, so I took Andrew there for lunch on Tuesday and he had his first-ever burrito with rice. He liked it okay, particularly the hot sauce, but after he finished he looked at me and said, with a knowing nod, "Next time I want to go to Taco Bell. They make tacos there the real way." Sigh. I have my work cut out for me moving this kid up the culinary ladder.
-- Finally, when you're heading out to a museum and the forecast calls for rain, you really should bring an umbrella. I suppose a real grown-up would know these things.
Comments