I can remember not so long ago we had one of those rare astronomical phenomena, it was an eclipse of some sort. I was lying on a trampoline at a friends house with my girlfriend watching for about 2 hours as the moon turned to darker and darker shades of bronze. After that it gradually lightened up again and all of a sudden it was back to normal.
This was followed by keen attention to news reports of the event over the next couple of days. I enjoyed these as they typically came with some sort of historical perspective. Some discourse on what significance an ancient tribe would have put on the event and the morbid actions which followed. This would draw my attention to the internet where some more investigations would ensue. So I had a lessons in astronomy and history all disguised in a natural wonder that was so rare I will probably never see it again.
The house where I witnessed this was not mine, it was owned by a friend. He was home, as was his 6 year old child. I remember telling them the show had started, encouraging them to come out to the trampoline and watch with us. My efforts were met with the words “yeah cool” as he turned back to watch the Simpsons and his daughter continued to play the Nintendo.
To this day I look back at this event with a mixture of wonder (at the eclipse) and bewilderment (at the attitude of apathy displayed towards it). Here we have a once in a lifetime event and the opportunity was passed up for an re-run of the Simpsons. Not only that, but an example was set for the next generation to have no sense of wonder at these rare and beautiful things.
I am a father now myself and recognise this is something I do not want to repeat in my family and home. I want my children to revel in the beauty of the world, recognise events of natural majesty when they happen and feel wonder at things bigger than them. Simply put, I want them to live and love it.
So I’d better leave this article here. A crazy rainbow has appeared in the back yard. I’d better take my daughter out and tell her about the pot of gold.
Damian Papworth has fallen in love with the fatherhood journey. He even recently researched baby high chairs. In his investigations he found wooden high chairs were particularly to his liking.