A Learning Experience

My six year old grandson, Darius, had one of those learning experiences that life gives you. The kind that stays with you forever, like when you learned what "hot" meant. But not to worry, no physical pain was experienced. Only a slight deflation of a growing ego. I can do it myself. A little humbling of an indepentant child.

After claiming his mother never did anything for him, Darius stubbornly began fixing his own dinner. Top Ramen noodles.

He put the bowl with the noodles in the microwave, pushed buttons, and began to dance around a little as he waited. It seemed to take a long time. From my place on the couch I hear the following as the microwave was still going...

whoa, steam...

Mama, there's a lot of steam coming out of the microwave.

By now I'm smelling something burning and I blurt out "Turn it off!"

Darius is still dancing around a little, but now it was because he wasn't sure what to do.

"TURN IT OFF" I yell a little louder as dirty gray smoke seeped into the air.

Darius pulled on the door which turned it off immediately. Dirty smoke came billowing out and filled the air. It had that burnt smell, like popcorn.

'Mom' came and pulled the smoking bowl out of the microwave and dropped it in the sink and ran water over it. More smoke. Below is what the bowl looked like.

 

 

I was watching Darius' expression as his mother questioned him in a calm manner.

What did you do?

I put the noodles in the bowl and put the bowl in the microwave.

Did you add any water?

At this point I could see his face crumble as he retraced his steps. When he mentally got to the "add water" step his face froze for a second and then his shoulders slumped.

Oh No! I forgot the water!

I know that feeling. I've lived that feeling way too often. I'm feeling for the little guy. Fortunately for him, his mom has a memory issue, too, and could relate to it being an unintentional accident.

That's okay. Don't worry about it.

But it did bother him for a little bit. He wanted to show his independance and it didn't work out that way. Life has a way of keeping us humble, doesn't it.