The Bird Feeder Episode
The Rookie bought a bird feeder and bag of birdseed and has been helping the grandchildren refill it for the moment (finally) when the grandchildren could be outside in the shadow of the back porch and watch the birds eating. Here goes:
The Rookie (whispering): Look, there are birds eating from the bird feeder.
Oldest grandchild (after looking for 1.5 seconds, not whispering): I want to go swing.
The Rookie (whispering): Wait, let’s watch them eat for a minute. If you go out there, they will fly away.
Oldest grandchild (still not whispering): If I run out there, will the birds eat me?
The Rookie (still trying to whisper and not laugh): No, they will be scared of you because you are bigger than they are, they will fly…
Oldest grandchild (left at full sprint toward swingset before sentence ended, birds flew away)
The Rookie (no longer whispering): Away…
August 18th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Several positive things happened here:
The birds were prompted to flee which will keep them vigilant and help them avoid future (real) predators.
Oldest grandchild discovered a new “game” to share with Youngest grandchild.
The Rookie was reminded that he should “watch the birds” (and engage in other boring activities) on his own time. ;-)
August 21st, 2013 at 7:19 am
The Rookie learned to keep his bird feeder money in his pocket :-)