Imagination is the world
Whew. Bit of a long day for me. It's been a while since my allergies hit me this bad, as this season. Usually I need only a few half-pills of claratin on the worst days and I'm fine. But since the end of May I've needed half-tablets morning and night. Alas, I come home to find that Matthew had a late nap and it was Joanne's knitting night. That's a bad combination when I'm already tired. But actually it wasn't too bad. After dinner I tried to do some cleanup upstairs, and while I was doing that Matthew decided to build the "biggest dog printer". Why exactly the dogs need a printer I'm not sure, but it was obviously very important to Matthew. He fetched tools like hammers and tape from the laundry room, and asked for paper to build the "big dog printer". What to do with such enthusiasm? Let it run its course. I gave him paper and a cardboard box, and he found a tin of nails and washers and odd hinges and other parts, and he nailed and tacked and taped things onto the box until he was satisfied, and proudly showed me the "big dog printer for Mickey."
I'm not sure when I first began working with tools. Very early, I imagine. I do remember when I first became interested in archery, which is about the first thing I remember building. It was in Ohio, at the corner house. I went with dad to the hardware store that was in town, and I saw arrows in the window display. I asked dad if he would buy me one, and bless him, he did. I also wanted some wood slats they had for sale, and he got be those too. I think they were for making kites, but I'm not sure. I remember him asking what I wanted them for, but I couldn't respond in a way that made sense, even to myself. I just wanted them. When I got them home, I took dad's black electical tape, taped the two slats together in the middle, and strung a string between them... and I had a bow. I tried shooting the arrow around a bit. Stu wanted one too, as I recall. That bow soon broke, but dad got the hint and got some play bows for us. I remember thinking that it wasn;t quite as much fun as building your own, but that they lasted much better.
I hope I too can encourage Matthew's creative/mechanical side.
I'm not sure when I first began working with tools. Very early, I imagine. I do remember when I first became interested in archery, which is about the first thing I remember building. It was in Ohio, at the corner house. I went with dad to the hardware store that was in town, and I saw arrows in the window display. I asked dad if he would buy me one, and bless him, he did. I also wanted some wood slats they had for sale, and he got be those too. I think they were for making kites, but I'm not sure. I remember him asking what I wanted them for, but I couldn't respond in a way that made sense, even to myself. I just wanted them. When I got them home, I took dad's black electical tape, taped the two slats together in the middle, and strung a string between them... and I had a bow. I tried shooting the arrow around a bit. Stu wanted one too, as I recall. That bow soon broke, but dad got the hint and got some play bows for us. I remember thinking that it wasn;t quite as much fun as building your own, but that they lasted much better.
I hope I too can encourage Matthew's creative/mechanical side.