Kids Make Choices

Independence=choice and to the previous ruling party, often not a preferred choice. As a parent you have a marvelous opportunity to provide culture when the kids are tiny (and without choice);
listening to Ellington, X, Machito, Bill Monroe, Sam and Dave- viewing Lost In Translation, , On The Waterfront,Tender Mercies, Singing in the Rain, and of course, Jaws and Star Trek. Then they grow and begin to assert their preferences, and you live with it. Bring on Barney,the dancing purple turd, Dora, the talking corpse, the Wiggles ("your friends are going to see them? You know they are in town?- Our town? You really want to go?"), Black Eyed Peas, Snooki Dog, Disney rap...). Independence=choice=could be=the end of civilization, but you live with it. The price of freedom. I won't tell you which way to jump but if you look at my face, you would have a pretty good idea what I'm thinking.

However, sometimes you (of course this is subjective all you Justin Bieber lovers) find the kids gravitating to something you are also find worthy. Most recently, young Oliver has become a big fan of Pee Wee's Playhouse: the Pee Wee Herman show. Its subversive but gentle humor holds up well today. Yelling at the secret word is such a good gimmick, a release that helps break up the zombified state of passive viewing. And I'm sorry spell check, in my blog, zombified is a word.

Someone that most Australians might find too silly (but would have to acknowledge his one-of-a -kind abilities) Dexter took to when he was little- Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. (Dex and Steve's daughter Bindi are nearly the exact age) Since Irwin's death, no one has been able to do what he could. That is, the ability to engage with giant crocodiles, poisonous snakes and other animals with showmanship and nerve that was overshadowed by his comic persona. This man broke down the proximity barrier, by crikey!

When the bush man in SF dies, another bush man takes his place the next day. But Steve and Pee Wee, are singular sensations. Success breeds imitation but some individuals create a niche that no others can copy. At six, Dexter had the Crocodile Hunter and now six, Oliver has Pee Wee Herman. I can live with those choices.