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Observing a nine year old and a four year old

Posted by richrobinson 10 years, 12 months ago to The Gulch: General
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My wife and I didn't have children and we agreed to watch her nine year old nephew and four year old niece for a few days. Some things should be obvious but never having been parents it was a learning experience. I realize now that giving a nine year old boy a squirt gun when he has a four year old sister is a bad idea. I now know that when a nine year old says he won't torture his sister he means turn your back so I can torture my sister. I am now aware that a four year old girl doesn't think that a lawn mower and circular saw running at the same time should stop her from talking. She simply needs to talk LOUDER. Disciplining a four year old girl with big blue eyes is really really hard. Ice cream is not a vegetable. The best part was one day when I had to run a quick errand. I took the nine year old with me. I turned on the radio and told him to find something to listen to. After hitting five of the pre set buttons and passing up three classic songs he tuned in Glenn Beck. He said "awesome, can we listen to this?" I wiped away a tear and said "you are the chosen one...yes we can listen to this.

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  • Posted by richrobinson 10 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    At 4 years old it was interesting what she had to say. Mostly "you aren't listening, how many ears do you have?". Stuff like that. It is amazing how much they pick up.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 10 years, 11 months ago
    Thanks, rich. I hope their parents had a nice couple of days. My father-in-law is taking all our kids (a full-size van-full) to his cabin today and they aren't coming back until Monday.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 10 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What? Children imitate their parents? You mean that how parents act all day every day actually affects their children?

    Shocker. [/sarcasm]

    Or for someone with a whole bunch of kids like me, not so much.
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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 10 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The 9 year old was impressive. His brain hasn't been killed yet, so that is a real positive. Beck is to touchy-feeling for me. He needs more reason and less religion.
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  • Posted by richrobinson 10 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I feel bad for those kids too. I would still put them on a plane home. I like Beck. He isn't perfect but few are. I was impressed that a nine year old was paying attention.
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  • Posted by flanap 10 years, 11 months ago
    Though lovely, kids are no damn good...the rod is magical. BTW...I am a parent and father.
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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 10 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Beck went to the southern border with toys and a tear in his eye. idiot!

    The southern border 'children' remind me of the fall of Saigon. I was stationed at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, a first stop for the refugee flights. Being a Corpsman of course I got assigned to a flight to do medical for the 'children'. The youngest kid on that plane was 17.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Me too, but don't get a chance to hear him often. Used to get a podcast, but that went away.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes, he can be, but then, can't we all? I'll take Beck over Hannity (water carrier for the right) or even Rush (anymore just someone commenting on what I've already read on Drudge). If you want insightful commentary then Mark Levin is very good, and I always enjoy Hugh Hewitt - particularly his weekly Hillsdale Dialogue.
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  • Posted by richrobinson 10 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The 4 year old liked imitating her mom. That was interesting. What really bothered me was some of the ads especially on the internet. The boy was playing a game that Was meant for teens and younger. An ad played while it loaded for "Satisfaction". It's a new TV show about sex and lust. Totally inappropriate.
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  • Posted by richrobinson 10 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    One night they were being quiet watching TV. I turned on the iPad to check into the gulch. As soon as it came on the four year old looked at me and said"uncle Rich, may I please play a game on the iPad". I know what I should have said but I actually said of coarse you can and gave it to her. What a wimp.
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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I am surprised they didn't tell you the rules. My kids, now grown, visit me and tell me US rules that don't apply where I live. It takes them 4 days into any visit to lose the rules in their heads
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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    my kids had a kit that allowed you to build marble runs...that also kept the two cats, Dominique and Banshee, quiet
    sadly, Dagny succumbed to some cat disease early in her life
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