Lawnmower and parenting

Josh is assembling one of his puzzles. He is past the tricky first part where you have absolutely no idea about which piece to begin with. As you help him by asking questions about shapes and alignments of parts, the question arises in your mind. "Are you being a good father? Are you teaching Josh all he should know for a five year old?" You wonder how many parents feel the same. You decide to look up some statistics published somewhere on that topic. At least it would be good for your psyche if you learn that seventy-eight percentage - any number above fifty, of parents feel that they are being bad parents.

Just look at this room. The train set that Josh played with yesterday, is still sitting there in the middle of the room. Of course the engine and a wagon are missing. You make a mental note to return them here if you step on them in the kitchen or bathroom. The miniature cars and the plastic animals are scattered everywhere. This room reminds you of your room when you were in college. You remember the article that said that all children grow into their parents. What if Josh turns out like you? And how better is your office than Josh's room. You quickly dismiss the picture of your office cubicle. The center of your intense activity with papers and magazines covering all the surfaces of the desk, the yellow-post-it notes on the overhead bookshelf, the little napkin with the customer's phone number taped to the computer monitor and at least three manuals with bookmarks - napkins again.

How much of your father have you become. The fact that you haven't become a person who runs his life like a well-oiled machine gives a lot of comfort. Josh will not be like you!

Josh is almost done and you look at the dinosaur emerging. You make little corrections to fit the parts tightly. Just then you remember the calendar Paul has in his cubicle. Paul's wife has made a calendar at the Kinko's with their photos. Paul's daughter Karen is just a month younger than Josh. There were pictures of Paul and Karen fishing - Her first fish, playing checkers, family vacationing in the Blue Ridge, in the beach and Karen learning ballet.

You take some consolation on your child's achievements. And the fact that he knows more animals than you do. Even the name of that rat with aluminum sidings in Texas. And that he can tell apart a T-Rex, Allosaurus, Brachio and Stego. At least till 'Land before Times', after which they all became Sharp Tooth, Little Feet and Sarah's. And how about his computer skills? Josh can shutdown the computer properly. A five-year-old can turn on a computer but how many can shut it down properly. He can load his CDs, handle the mouse and fly through his games with no assistance. You make a note for the zillionth time to cut down his time on the PC. You definitely don't want him to develop your 'monitor-tan'. You think that Josh is going to send an email to your cell phone any day now. If only you can teach him his alphabets soon!

Josh has finished the puzzle and wants some action. You both go out to the yard. Suddenly you get the great idea of teaching your kid the fine art of lawn mowing. "Ah, that should fix Paul and Karen". You set up the equipment and lecture Josh about mowing, lawn, grass height, the switches and so on. You wonder how much a five year old register of this lecture. Just when the mower is humming nicely, your wife calls out to remind about lunch. And about the dinner party tonight at Fred's place. And when you turn back to resume your tutorial, you are in for a surprise.

The lawn mower has gone right through your flowerbed. Your weeks of hard work, the envy of your neighbors and the jewel of your yard, all gone in one push. You lose your control and start screaming at Josh. That produces his mother instantly. She picks up Josh who is transitioning from a state of achievement to crying. She stops you with, "Hey Hold on. You are raising a child. Not a flower-bed."

You shout back asking would not a five-year-old know not to mow through a flowerbed. The defense attorney's response started with, "If a thirty-seven year old knows how to set a mower in front of a flower-bed...."

As you go back inside the house, you wonder if Karen can shutdown the PC properly.