Meteor Showers
Last night, my son semi-excitedly asked me if I want to watch a meteor shower. That day, I was pretty ragged, not sleeping much because of computer problems I’ve been having for the last few days. I could have said, no thanks son, I’m too tired… but I didn’t, and here’s why!
- It’s rare that my son ask me to do things with him, so when he does, I try very hard to make it happen with him.
- There are only so many meteor showers during the year, and if it’s overcast or the moon is too bright, then there are even less opportunities.
- It’s a great frugal activity, we just sit in a couple of chairs each of us wrapped in our own blankets (if it’s cold like last night) and just look up in the sky and joke around.
- Letting my son come up with a plan and following it through, helps him build his confidence and makes him feel more like a leader and decision maker!
- It’s actually kind of fun to see the meteors zip across the sky! In the half an hour that we were out there, I saw about 10, and my son saw about 30. At one point, he saw three at once! His eyes are faster than mine so he’s able to see and react more quickly.
After having such a great positive experience, the next time, I think I’ll make popcorn and prepare some warn beverage if it’s cold like last night, perhaps hot chocolate and hot tea. If time permits, perhaps we’ll even build a campfire in the backyard. Starting a campfire is one of his favorite things to do.
-MR
I would love to do something like that. Often times I find out about these types of things after the fact. It’s great your son had the knowledge that one was coming to your area.
You sound like you have a nice family.
My family is great! Both of my kids have their own charms… I hope it stays that way and their teenage years aren’t rough like I’ve heard!
My son really like science stuff, so he naturally is down to stuff like that…
Hey MR! I am the queen of meteor showers- I love them. Was this last night? I know the minor shower (Orionids) have been going on, and then we have the next shower in November. Hope for some pleasant weather and a dark moon.
It is unplanned times with the kids like that that are the best! Thanks for sharing!
It was the Orionids… I actually wrote the article last week…
We’ve did meteor showers a few years ago, but the kids didn’t appreciate it as much. But my son is really getting into it now!
How cool is that!
Last night my son refused to go to bed because he’s discovered The Magic Treehouse books. DH cut him off just after 10pm.
Yep, both of my kids read (and listen to the audiobooks) of that series. I’m not to crazy about Jack and Annie though 😉
Really? I kind of identify with Jack. Very cautious. Annie drives me nuts. But she drives Jack nuts too.
It is kind of weird having a modern series where the kids don’t tell the parents because they don’t think their parents will believe them. I thought that went out of style when everybody met Snuffaluffagus on Sesame St.
You touched on one of the themes I don’t like in the series. The kids just run around everywhere doing whatever…
Oh well, the stories aren’t too bad 🙂
It’s nice that your son enjoys such activities. It is certainly in a contrast to the consumerism that plagues many youths, even at a young age. Adding the popcorn and beverage makes it even more of an “event.”
Cheers
I let my kids buy their own things with their allowance money, but mostly the don’t crave the little things anymore (my son went through a spell where he did though).
Both are bigtime saver (at least currently).
Popcorn and a beverage would definitely added to the event 🙂
I think that’s a great way to spend time with your son. I personally love watching for meteors. It’s fun to point them out and see if you caught a glimpse of the same one.
I can’t believe my son saw three all at the same time! the most I’ve ever seen was 2 at the same time…
At the end I made it a game (from this point on lets see how sees the most meteors), and his younger vision blew mine away!
Wow I have a son on the way and that sounds like something I can hope for one day.
My dad still gets pumped whenever I ask him to do anything
Yeah, it takes some patience for kids to sit that long, but at least they can be noisey… The meteors won’t mind 🙂
My son also has a telescope that he uses to check out the moon ever now and then!
You’ll love being a dad! It has changed me for the better!
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That sounds like so much fun! We star-gazed a couple of weekends ago and had a great time.
Yeah, fun stuff, that’s for sure!
I was amazed how much my son got into it this time. It was a great moment that I probably won’t ever forget (I hope)…
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