Sunday 17 October 2010

One Will Stand, One Will Fall

A few weeks back, BK bought Ew 3 Transformer robots.

Ew's idea of Transformers up to the point of that moment was limited to "Transform and Roll out" which is our instruction for setting up the stroller and pushing it along. After reading that, you should be getting the idea that BK got those robots for himself. (Not the first time either if you consider his track record - 2 remote control cars, the model air plane).

Ew was intrigued to say the least. Never mind that those three were not part of the Autobots management team. He loves anything with wheels and mechanics. Here were 3 toys which looked like cars but hey ! you could manipulate them and turn them into robots. He has some ideas about robots from his books.

And so it began - he started noticing other Transformers in the toy store - the fine looking truck called Optimus Prime, the very attractive yellow robot called Bumblebee. It didn't take long for him to learn that Optimus was the leader and the nasty robot was Megatron. Ew was in love ! His mother did not approve of his choice while his father shrugged and secretly thought about the Transformer he was getting for Christmas.

I know, you must be thinking that I am a stick in the mud. We do have a policy of non-violence in our house. No guns, no swords, no fighting, no violent TV eh.. make that not much of any TV. The first time a boy took an imaginary shot at Ew in the playground, Ew had no idea what hit him. With his interest in Transformers, his parents got creative.

Ew:  "Daddy, why is Optimus Prime holding a knife ? "
(Note: We have no idea how this came about. Does Optimus Prime have a sword ?)
BK:  "Er..."
Adelyn looks at BK. The message is clear, although she doesn't say anything "Fix it. You started it."
BK:  "Optimus Prime loves apples. He needs something to help his peel and cut the fruits. "
Adelyn : "Touche Daddy."

My husband is the creative one. Every night for 6 months, he told "Muniandy the Tractor" stories. With a motley crew of vehicles that rally around him - Nunu the small tractor, Amu the tow truck, human friends and animals, Muniandy embarked on different adventures each night. Our hero is now a multimillionaire who owns an amusement park, farms, banana cake factories. Now, "Muniandy the Multimillionaire Tractor" makes the occasional guest appearance on the currently running "Fireman Ew" stories. Both series have been temporarily suspended due to audience demand for "Transformer" stories.

For the past week, BK wove stories of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Mudflap and Skip guarding apple orchards, sharing fruits and saving crops from the evil Megatron. Ew drank it all up, in awe of these great robots who "Transform and Roll out" to orchards.

Lately, my sweet little boy is into "bashing people into bits" not knowing exactly what it means. I have no idea where he gets it from. I know it is not from TV. I am relieved it is not from TV. I can only theorize that it is a natural development for him as his testosterone levels peak.

Am I sorry that he thinks Optimus Prime is some kind of Johnny Appleseed ? No. I stick to my principles of non-violence. What comes naturally to him will come. I will continue to deny my children any catalyst for violence and hatred. There plenty of that when they go out into the world. What the world lacks is love and gentleness - that I will make sure they get it at home.

Ew: "Mummy, Daddy says that Optimus Prime said "One Will Stand and One Will Fall".
Adelyn: "What's that?"
Ew: "That means one apple will be standing and the other on its side"
Adelyn: "Hmmm...interesting"

I love the man who came up with that.

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