My son Will was the kind of kid that just had to investigate everything in his path.My other two, his older sister and brother, when I would tell them, “no”, they stopped what they were doing. With Will, that word was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. “No, you say? Well let’s just see about that!”
With Will, it was necessary to invest in those nifty little plastic plugs that would prevent two-year old would-be electricians from sticking things like bobby pins or even fork tines into electrical outlets. We also invested in those door-knob-thingies that prevented him from going into any room he wanted to explore and if there had been a gadget that would have enabled me to see behind my head, I am sure I would have got one of those too. In fact, I did put up a mirror over the sink in the kitchen at such an angle that I could see him approaching from behind at least in that limited field of vision.
At five years old, Will had to be given clear warnings of what might happen, if he did whatever he planned. Of course, he would have to try it just to see if what we told him would happen, really could. So on one fine summer afternoon on our farm as usual, he set out to the back forty to explore. With the Owl Magazine in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other, a canteen hanging over his shoulder, he was ready to do serious research. When asked what he planned to see with the magnifier, he explained that he was going to study the cells that make up the maple leaves or to check out the underbellies of some bugs to find out to what family of insects it could belong.
I was in the middle of making supper when my young scientist came breathless into the kitchen saying, “I don’t know why I did it, but I did it and now I’ve got to put it out!” Grabbing the bucket from the utility cupboard, he ran to get water from the pond so he could put out the field fire he “accidently” started with his magnifying glass.
He did learn things but generally only the hard way, on this occasion, from the firemen who came to put out the blazing grass fire that was rapidly approaching our neighbour’s property. He promised never to do that again.
© Márta O’Reilly
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Oh to live those wonderful days over, I am sure I could not do it now, but way back then it was just instinct.fun to remember now. b
Love it Marta! I’m guessing he is still much the same even now he’s an adult.
Thanks for that, Chris
I completely understand Will’s approach & interest in nature & how things work. I’m still a little like that even though I’m into my 7th decade. I always want to know how something works. What a great mom to let him explore his universe.
Some people need to learn things the hard way so they remember. I’m sure your son appreciated you allowing him to learn in the way he needed. I’m sure you were always there with a bandaid and kiss to make it better, when in you’re mind you were thinking ” I told you so”. 45 years later, your son is grateful everyday for the things he learned from you.
Where there’s a Will, there’s a way? Fun to read, Marta! &5