Learning To Be Dad

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Never underestimate the ability of an 18 month year old trying to make a quick getaway

What can a 18-monther do?

  • Sleep
  • Eat solids
  • Walk
  • Start to talk – “no”, “mum”, “dad”, “yummy”, “laptop” (don’t ask)
  • Point
  • Change the channel on the satellite
  • Control and direct an electric quad bike with the skill and acumen of a 30 year veteran

Now, I’m quite happy to assume that the last one wouldn’t have normally made it onto your list. I’m quite sure that the thought of your 18-month old hurtling off across a playing field on a quad bike is not your idea of safe afternoon fun.

Of course, you reckon without the influence of grandparents. I can see them in the shop now.

Granddad: “Seb needs a bike.”
Grandma: “But he can’t ride yet.”
Granddad: “So we can him on with 4 wheel”
Grandma: “He’s not strong enough to cycle a go-kart.”
Granddad: “It’s OK, we’ll get one with an engine”
Grandma: “Oh alright. I’ll pay”

So, an electric quad arrives. Red, with Spiderman logo’s all over it. Plainly to Seb, this was the single most amazing (not to say largest) machine he’d ever been near, let alone on. Grandad had of course charged it up before bringing it round, so it was ready to go.

So, I’m looking at this thing. A 12v electric motor on something that weight less than what I had for lunch. A binary accelerator (on/off) at foot level, and no breaks. Seb’s going to die.

Some common sense had arrived, in the form of a helmet and pads for knees and elbows. When kitted out, Seb did look like a very small Michelin man. So of to the park. I was under the assumption that we would carry the quad there and then let him get on it. Nope, Grandad wanted him to try now.

So Seb jumped on, with help, and held onto the handle bars. Grandad was explaining the foot accelerator. I think he got as far as “This is where you put your foot…” before Seb shot off. I mean he was gone. As he comes to a bend we’re all shouting “Lift your foot up!”.

He simply turned the handle bars and sailed around the corner. And then stopped. Looking over his shoulder, and grinning at us, it would appear that he’d finally found something he could really do.

It was truly amazing to watch. He understood turning, stopping, when to accelerate. He’d still get into trouble if he didn’t concentrate. A glance over the shoulder would result in a meeting with the hedge. But overwhelmingly, he knew what to do.

And the reason for me writing this story, is so that I never underestimate him again.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Golf? Never to early

You never know, I mean never, what your kids are going to be into. Not to embarrass Seb but he has tap lessons, and goes to my wife’s rhythmic gymnastic lessons (she coaches). He’s surrounded by women all the time, and he loves it. He joins in enthusiastically and really enjoys it all. Plus he’s really good at it too!

Equally he likes nothing better than chasing his Grandfather around the house (he stay’s with them one a week), shouting “Aarrggg!” and trying gouge out eyes with Pirate swords. His rendition of “Eye Eye Captain” when visiting HMS Warrior in Portsmouth’s Dockyard is perfect.
So, when I see something that I think he may like, I usually try it just to see. It’s kind of like the scatter gun approach to child development. Do everything, see what sticks.

The best example came around 18 months ago, just before Seb was turning 3. We’d gone shopping, and my father-in-law and myself were wandering around JJB Sports. They were having a sale and we were just killing time until we met up with the girls and Seb.

Walking amongst the sporting equipment, I came across the golf section. Taking out a driver, I gave it some test swings. I’ve never played much golf, but when I did, I enjoyed it, and I am blessed with some natural talent (you’d need a theodalite and GPS equipment to detect it but it’s there).

As I was trying out a 3 Wood, my eyes fell on the discounted section on the end. Amongst all the normal clubs was a single, tiny 3 Iron. It was tiny. It barely came up to my knee. Which meant it would be perfect for Seb.

I believe I paid about £9 for the club, a club for myself and a set of six luminous yellow golf balls. A small outlay to be set up for game of golf!

Hiding the club well, we met up with girls. The sight on Seb’s face when he saw his own club was a picture. He couldn’t believe that he had a club, just like Dad’s.

We went down the park that afternoon when it was quite. I showed him a couple of shots, and then left him to hack away at the grass with the club. His strike rate of ball against grass was about 6%, but when he did hit it, he was so excited. I just wandered around knocking my own golf ball around.

Near the end, just before we went home, Seb caught the ball just right. It sailed through the air, and hit the football wall, dropping to the ground. I made such a fuss of him.
After that, we played golf pretty regularly until the weather worsened. Even know, he still asks if we can go golfing. He says “We haven’t been in ages”. It’s obviously struck something in him.

Which is why I feel so strongly that you should always try and expose your child to as many positive experiences as possible.