I Hear the Tables Turning

It’s a classic stereotype that parents love playing with their children’s new toys.  Maybe they take a quick turn as they assemble things for Christmas, or they may have to wait until the children are worn out and safely asleep in bed.  No matter when you were born, the new toys are technically much more sophisticated than when you were a child.  It goes without saying that you should practice so that you can nonchalantly beat the pants off your child if the opportunity presents itself.  Parents need the sharper edge whenever possible.

This afternoon grandson David was quietly insistent that he and Grandpa were going shopping as they had discussed.  He mentioned Radio Shack and Toys R Us.  They went in one direction, and his mother went to the village with his brother.  John and David returned first, and I could tell David was excited about something.  I wasn’t suspicious until he asked if I wanted to open my birthday and Christmas gift right then.  Hummmm.  Did that quick shopping trip have something to do with me?  What on earth?  I said we should wait until the other two returned.  I wanted a bigger audience and time to anticipate this strange gift.  Unfortunately John was working the evening shift at Borders, so he wasn’t here for the fun.  I heard Kate tell David to wrap it up, and I called out that whatever it was didn’t need to be wrapped.  It was enough that the little box was covered up by the store bag.  Oh!  My Goodness!  It was a little remote controlled Silverado!!!  Weeks ago David heard me say that I wouldn’t mind getting a toy like that every year.  I could almost hear the tables turning.  A grandchild was tuned in to verbal wishes and remembered what I’d said.

Both boys offered to open it for me.  Citing owners’ privilege, I took it out.  The truck was screwed to the box, so the boys got two screwdrivers and set to work.  They politely took turns, but neither they nor Kate nor I could budge the second screw.  I said maybe they could take it to NJ and get magical Michael to extricate it.  He can fix anything or tell you that it's impossible.  By then it was time for me to cook dinner.  Wouldn’t you know, that’s when David finally got it loose.  I said I’d play with it after dinner.  Fast forward past a pleasant meal, washing dishes and cleaning the stove.

Nate and David with truck and obstacle

“Now!” I said.  “It’s time for me to play with my new toy.  I have to be the first to play with it.”

David, being the honest boy he is, said, “We played with it upstairs while you were doing dinner.”

“That doesn’t count,” I said.  “You were just testing it.”

That’s where things were a bit confused.  At times I was the child, but at that point I was the doting grandmother.

I went back to being the child.  I’m reasonably coordinated and was able to drive the car around the core of the house on the ground floor.  Both boys were coaching me.  “Turn left.  Back up.  A little more to the right.  That’s OK, you didn’t dent the bumper when you rammed the wall.”

Nate with the Silverado

David found one of Nate’s remote controlled vehicles, a much larger one than mine.  He and Nate began constructing an obstacle course.  I got through it and let Nate have the Silverado while I went upstairs to write.  Everyone settled down to serious playing -- Kate was playing with David’s iTouch in the dining room.  Before long Nate brought my truck upstairs, putting the cane across the stairs to keep the truck from falling.  He put a few things in the hallway to add interest.  Both boys rigged up a ramp to get across the sill at the bathroom door.  I said I wanted to drive it in and out of every room without leaving the computer chair, but it was dark in Lise’s room.  We needed lights on that truck.  Nate disappeared downstairs, coming back with a small flashlight and a rubber band.  We were ready for night time driving.  Varoom!!  Varoom!!

As I enter my second childhood, I’m so glad I can want toys again and am surrounded with people who don’t roll their eyes where I can see them.

P.S.    It’s about 24 hours since I opened my remote controlled Silverado, and I’ve already learned a lot from it.  For one thing, making a three point turn is extremely easy.  You move both thumbs to the other button and back again.  Done!  One of the most important things is to pretend whatever wild move you made is what you intended to do at the outset.  Stick with your story.  It’s essential that you realize you can learn new tricks when you are old.  After playing with this little truck, I’m confident I’ll be able to learn to drive my scooter or wheelchair when I’m no longer mobile.  That presupposes my mind is working, but then if it isn’t, I won’t know it, will I?