Worth reinventing the wheel!

Summer is officially here when the boys are home. They sleep and wake up whenever, eat whenever and do whatever! They forget that Time exists and while it away. If by chance I get maddened by any of it, I remember the Mad Hatter character who is constantly plagued by Time. That's how it is for most of us. We are ruled by Time all the time. Given the harsh reality, why not disregard Time when we can?!

The boys do get to select projects like clean my room or learn to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Sometimes, their dad steps in and suggests a project like build my own computer! Craigley definitely has higher expectations from the boys than I do.

About 3 years ago, Craigley taught ASid how to build a computer. It is like a rite of passage or something poignant like that. I am sure in a couple of years’ time, Hans will get to build a computer with Craigley as well. This summer though, Craigley wanted ASid to build his own computer without any help from dad. ASid literally spent an entire day researching and ordering various computer parts. This was a few days ago and since then, we had several packages delivered to our home.

Today, ASid decided to build his computer. One of his friends wanted to join in. We are all for friends joining in anytime. Craigley was concerned that ASid maybe allowing a friend to help him build the computer?! I was like why even bother with such speculation?! Just buy the boy a computer!! Craigley was like ASid has forgotten everything he taught him. I was like dude, that was a one time teaching session about 3 years ago. Really! How much can one retain from that?!

Our arguments aside, I believe ASid actually enjoyed putting together a computer. He had fun collaborating with his friend. Craigley kept checking in on them. The boys, on the other hand, checked out info on Google and YouTube. They seemed to know what they were doing. ASid is almost 16 and one of these days, he could be driving on the streets. Given that reality, this was nothing. At the most, a few hundred dollars’ worth of computer parts could break or malfunction.

However, this is how it went down…

ASid and his friend screamed out in delight as the monitor came alive! They spent a good 3 hours and had a few frustrating moments in between and a break for dinner. But they got it done! And these are ASid’s famous last words for the day: See that Mom?! That took less than 30 seconds! It takes your computer 5 years to do the same!

Once in a while, dad can be the happening parent! I am cool with that!