One of the things about travelling in the car with small children is that a parent gets accustomed to pointing out things that you know the kids will enjoy.
For instance, last weekend, my husband and I went to Quesnel for a brief trip and on the way, there was some construction in Stoner wherein it would appear that they are building another highway on the banks of Stone Creek.
I was about to point out the dump trucks, loaders and steam rollers to my husband when I realized that we had no kids in the car. No one currently in the vehicle really cared, at all, about the big trucks pushing dirt around.
I started to laugh when I realized what I was doing and it made me wonder how often I subconsciously point out toddler-appealing sites to people I am driving with, regardless of their age.
I can picture it now: me driving with a friend in the car and having a great conversation not about the kids when suddenly I interrupt her to point out, "Look, it's a crow! What do crows say?"
Or maybe, I am at work and I excitedly point out a spider crawling on the ceiling to my bewildered colleagues while we are in a team meeting. I hope that this does not happen but I fear that it does.
When I was first pregnant with our son, I was worried that we may have a boy and that I would not be able to relate to my son.Once we had our son and as he grew, I discovered that a parent can feign interest in any number of things if it makes your child happy.
Their excitement over seeing a "fwappit" (or flat bed truck, for those not well-versed in toddler speak) bubbles over and becomes your excitement.Joy is infectious and I can still name all of Thomas' Friends with certainty even though Thomas isn't played as often anymore. Sometimes I will catch myself humming the Thomas theme song which has been permanently inscribed on my psyche.The benevolent dictatorship of Sir Topham Hatt and his useful engines will fondly remain a symbol of my son's childhood.
As for my daughter, the theme song of her childhood will likely be endless repetitions of Frere Jacques and counting to twenty and consistently forgetting the number sixteen. As a second child, her true joy appears to be ruining any fun that her brother is having.
And then sometimes, every so often, the TV is off and they are playing together and there is a moment of perfect peace in the household. Then one of them punches the other and we're off to the races.
In the meantime, make sure you check out the big trucks just south of town; they are pretty impressive.
