The more I find out about the world, the more cynical I become. It's hard for me to relish in things the way I used to. Don't get me wrong...I want to. It's just hard for me as a practical person to fully enjoy most things. These days, my kids are used to me being a Debbie Downer.
Kids: Mom can we have candy?
Me: If you want to eat colors made with petroleum.
Kids: Mom can we try to win this stuffed animal out of the machine?
Me: If you want to get addicted to gambling at an early age.
Kids: Mom can we buy this t-shirt at the fair?
Me: If you want to support sweatshops.
People love being around me. I'm a real fun time.
Anyway, my son is about to turn 7, and this weekend, we decided to throw him a party. All he wanted was a blow-up bouncy slide and a blue Mario cake covered in all his favorite characters. My principles started kicking in. I wanted so badly to tell him that those bouncy slides are a waste of electricity and water. I wanted to tell him that blue food coloring is bad for his stomach. I wanted to tell him that those Mario characters are a bad use of his money.
But instead, we had a bouncy slide and the bluest Mario cake I could muster. Because for just one day, I can let go of my principles in the interest of letting my kid be a kid.
Reader, no matter how hard we try, it's impossible to get it all just right. We're going to make an impact on this planet, sometimes not a good one. So maybe it's ok every once in a blue moon to let go of our rigid thinking and enjoy a trip down a damn water slide.
May you be good to your inner child this week, and I'll see you next Monday. -Em