May 24, 2002
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It's a Man Thing
Several years ago I read a book about the process of boys growing into men. There was a lot of discussion about the loss of "rites of passage" in our culture. Older cultures had elaborate rites to mark the passage from child to man. One of the things that struck me about the specifics of the ritual was the utter exclusion of Mom from the process. In some cultures the child is "stolen" away from Mom as the first step of the ritual.
I've had at the back of my mind that when Michael reached the age of about 30, he and Tim could go off together, have a beer, tell a couple jokes, maybe even pretend to fish or some such other manly activity - and the deed would be done. My baby would officially be a man.
But, they don't ask Mom to determine the time and the age of readiness for a good reason. I'm more aware of my own UNreadiness than I am of the signs of maturity that are appearing in my son.
Michael has always been slow to test his limits. We had to strongly encourage him to crawl, walk, and run. He had to be coaxed down the slide with Daddy holding both hands. He didn't speak until he was almost 4 (but has since made up for the early silence.) Last year, he was hesitant about going on the carousel ride so I rode standing beside him.
This year, he wanted to ride the Hellevator. This ride is an 11 story tower. Riders are raised to the top, then dropped. They free fall 10 stories before the airbrakes kick in and cushion their landing. Tim and I like the more exciting rides. We love roller coasters and the like. Last year I waited with the babies while Tim rode this one. He talked about it for weeks as been the scariest ride he'd ever been on.
They waited in line for 45 minutes. Then Tim and Michael took their seats next to each other. The car rose - the car fell. Tim staggered off the ride with shaky knees. Michael said, "Mom! That was amazing!" He also rode his first real coaster, and he rode with me on my personal favorite - the Enterprise. He sat beside me and watched Tucker on the kiddie rides that Michael is now too tall for. With perfect seriousness he said, "Mom, the babies are cute, but they have no idea how much more fun they will have when they get tall enough to be really scared."
Tim and Michael before the ride.
Going up.
Waiting for the drop.
Watching the babies with a new perspective.
Comments (16)
That was such a cute story. :)
I love your kids, and haven't even met 'em yet.
(still assuming that I'm allowed to visit someday. heh)
Great story! Kids never cease to amaze me!
Great story! Kids never cease to amaze me!
And when you get even older, you can get scared just by WATCHing the roller coasters and free fall rides! (At least it saves some tickets for the merry-go-round)...Spot
God Bless - Dale
Uummmm ....... I believe the story but in the picture of Michael at the bottom, he looks a little "green" too me.
LOL he does look a bit green
Sounds like fun and yes, a interesting perspective 
Sounds like a lot of fun. Your son is cute, sounds like he's getting more daring now.
Have a great weekend
I specifically remember the first time my son drove a little go cart all by himself, rather than as a passenger with his Dad. I could hardly see him drive around the track through my tears as I realized he was growing up!
When I read the name of that ride, I thought it was apt because like h#(( would you ever get me on it! I'm such a wimp that my middle son had to go on the kid power tower at Legoland alone. I'm glad your kiddo has more guts than I do.
what baby? TAHTS A MONSTER I TEL YA
...but training wheels for the real rite of passage...
What a great blog ! @-}-}-- I have a son he is 14 yrs. How they learn,grow and see the world! @-}-}-
cool. so, when i'm home this summer, we can go to magic springs and i can take michael on all the fun rides?
he's a braver lad than I!
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