Yesterday, Eleanor and Daddy went to a municipal fireworks display put on by a nearby town.
Today, Michael bought a 41-pack of fountain fireworks at the grocery store because he felt that his daughters would be deprived without having their own fireworks. As a child, he was used to setting off sparklers, firecrackers (especially for tin can rockets), small bottle rockets, catherine wheels, fountains, and other fireworks, many of which were actually legal. For some reason, he thinks that he should pass this on to his children.
Luke quivered in terror at all fireworks that made noise, sparks, or smoke, or even had bright lights. After they went off, he blew at them because they looked hot and needed to be cooled off. Smart boy.
Amanda: "Those were great fireworks. I need to go into the house to get my raincoat. Can you put my raincoat on me?" She watched them, but I couldn't get a picture of her watching the fireworks because she was hiding behind me with her hands over her ears all the time.
Eleanor: "Those were the best fireworks ever!" After Amanda was in bed, Eleanor and Daddy walked around the neighborhood to watch the displays the neighbors put on, and for once she didn't complain about walking all the way around the block. "I wish we had fireworks that went up into the air." "We should do this again next year. This is better than the Cary fireworks. We should get some fireworks that go up into the air next year." She offered to go with Daddy on a road trip to South Carolina to pick up mortars, bottle rockets, and roman candles. She turned down a friendly offer to light off a bottle rocket by herself, saying that she might do that when she was "seven or eight".
The gorgeous backdrop for the neighborhood fireworks were celestial, as a massive thunderstorm slowly rolled in, bringing much-needed rain and calming my fears about stray sparks and smoldering rockets setting our entire neighborhood on fire. Michael thinks I worry too much.
My own opinion about fireworks was influenced by my grandfather, who would stick our sparklers in the sand, light them for us, and make sure we stood at a safe distance. Once, he found a stray bottle rocket, put it in a bottle at the end of the dock, pointed it safely over the lake, and made us stand safely on shore while he lit it and got quickly out of the way. I'm sure my father had his own experiences with fireworks, but by the time I knew him he was convinced that we should let the professionals do it. So far the vote for mortars next year is running 3 to 2 against, however, we'll see what the tally is next year this time.
Today, Michael bought a 41-pack of fountain fireworks at the grocery store because he felt that his daughters would be deprived without having their own fireworks. As a child, he was used to setting off sparklers, firecrackers (especially for tin can rockets), small bottle rockets, catherine wheels, fountains, and other fireworks, many of which were actually legal. For some reason, he thinks that he should pass this on to his children.
Luke quivered in terror at all fireworks that made noise, sparks, or smoke, or even had bright lights. After they went off, he blew at them because they looked hot and needed to be cooled off. Smart boy.
Amanda: "Those were great fireworks. I need to go into the house to get my raincoat. Can you put my raincoat on me?" She watched them, but I couldn't get a picture of her watching the fireworks because she was hiding behind me with her hands over her ears all the time.
Eleanor: "Those were the best fireworks ever!" After Amanda was in bed, Eleanor and Daddy walked around the neighborhood to watch the displays the neighbors put on, and for once she didn't complain about walking all the way around the block. "I wish we had fireworks that went up into the air." "We should do this again next year. This is better than the Cary fireworks. We should get some fireworks that go up into the air next year." She offered to go with Daddy on a road trip to South Carolina to pick up mortars, bottle rockets, and roman candles. She turned down a friendly offer to light off a bottle rocket by herself, saying that she might do that when she was "seven or eight".
The gorgeous backdrop for the neighborhood fireworks were celestial, as a massive thunderstorm slowly rolled in, bringing much-needed rain and calming my fears about stray sparks and smoldering rockets setting our entire neighborhood on fire. Michael thinks I worry too much.
My own opinion about fireworks was influenced by my grandfather, who would stick our sparklers in the sand, light them for us, and make sure we stood at a safe distance. Once, he found a stray bottle rocket, put it in a bottle at the end of the dock, pointed it safely over the lake, and made us stand safely on shore while he lit it and got quickly out of the way. I'm sure my father had his own experiences with fireworks, but by the time I knew him he was convinced that we should let the professionals do it. So far the vote for mortars next year is running 3 to 2 against, however, we'll see what the tally is next year this time.
Comments
They did get to see sparklers at my parents' house the week before. My childhood experiences were pretty similar to yours, Kim, though we were eventually allowed to hold our own sparklers =]
I do recall my own intense childhood fear of explosive fireworks, and would never have bought them for myself or my kids; on the other hand, I loved Roman candles and other fiery displays, and fireworks action toys. I do recall buying once a string of black firecrackers, and after they'd rested in my personal stash of treasures for several years, one day I took them out and Michael and I set them off.
I am sorry that Luke had a frightening time with the noise. On the other hand, it's not such a bad thing for a male to acquire a bit of a phobia for explosives before adolescence.
:)
Dan---Hmmm, I wonder where did Michael get the idea that fireworks were an essential part of the 4th of July? He definitely believes that the bigger, the better (within some limits, of course...)
Luke has always been opposed to loud noises. It is not always convenient (he is very sensitive and a very light sleeper) but perhaps this is something I should encourage in order to help him survive...