Tiny Cars, Transformers, God … and Extra Special Bonus Content!
by Jenners • 07/22/2009 • BB/The Little One, Guest Posts, Writers Workshop • 33 Comments
Participate, read, comment!
Prompt 1: They just don’t make (fill in the blank) like they used to!
I agree — my current fill in the blank is just so shoddily made. It falls apart all the time, and it just doesn’t work like it used to. I’m thinking about returning it, but I lost the receipt. I wish I had the fill in the blank I had when I was a child — that one was awesome!
(Insert riotous laughter here at my outrageously funny wit.)
Actually, the first thing that popped into my head when I saw this prompt was: They just don’t make Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars like they used to. I found this out when the Little One discovered the amazing world of tiny cars. (The fact that they still cost about $1.00 is fantastic.) Once he proved he was playing with them in a serious way, Mr. Jenners decided to show the Little One his collection of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars from when he was a child. Let me tell you — Mr. Jenners’s collection of cars was WAY COOLER than anything you can find in the stores today.
I think the key is that the “older” cars (circa mid-1970s) had lots of moving parts and pieces — probably because no one worried about choking hazards back then. He has a cool circus car that spins around a lion, a tow truck with real hooks that can actually tow, a car that pops the driver up and down, and a wide assortment of race cars that have pieces that spin when you drive them. Sure they’re probably covered in lead paint and have pieces that could break off and choke a baby, but they are so much more fun! They just don’t make ‘em like that anymore.
Dangerous or Full of Fun?Some of the cooler Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars from Mr. Jenners’ collection.
Filled with small moving pieces that could choke a child!
Prompt 4: What’s on YOUR little kids list?
After reading the post that inspired this prompt, I realized this meant a list of things that my little kid is into. And though it is subject to change without notice (usually after I’ve spent quite a few dollars indulging his latest obsession), here’s my little kid list (circa today).
- Transformers, Transformers, Transformers. Let me tell you, whoever invented Transformers is a genius who understands kids. My son immediately grasped the concept (not that it is hard — robots who can change into other things) and fell in love with all things Transformer. After some experimentation, we realized that the Cartoon Network Animated Series toys are far superior than the movie toys. We now have a little collection of Transformers that he can easily transform himself. (Thank the Lord!) But even more than the toys, he is into playing Transformers. He is Bumblebee and I am Optimus Prime. We go on missions throughout the house. The other day, we fought SharkBots on the bottom of the ocean and then traveled to the jungle to battle JaguarBots and SnakeBots. I tried to pull one over on him and introduced him to my SpotBot — but he quickly caught on that I was trying to do housework instead of devoting 100% of my waking hours to his whims and flights of imaginative fancy. And heaven forbid if the 6 pairs of Transformers underwear he has aren’t available to wear every day of the week!
Autobot or Decepticon?- All Things God. Lately, he’s been wondering a lot about God. This started when some kids at his preschool were talking about God and how God made everything in the world. This led to tons and tons of questions that cause my brain to hurt. A small sample:
“Is God bigger than a T-Rex, Mommy?” Yes.
“Is God bigger than a brontosaurus?” Yes.
“Where does God live?” Ummmm…what do you think?
“I think he lives in the clouds.” Yes..that is right.
“God made everything, right Mommy?” Yes.
“So God made all those school buses over there?” Well, people made those school buses, but God made the people.
“How did God make the people?” Ummmm..I don’t know. You can ask your dad when we get home.
- Peeing Alone in Public Restrooms. He has suddenly demanded that I stand outside while he pees — even to the point of locking the door (which fills me with visions of me crawling under a door on a disgustingly dirty floor in the very near future). But I’m all for him being independent. (And yes … I do stand outside the door…he’s not that big yet!)
- Figuring Out Words On His Own. He’s really started to get the hang of figuring out words he sees — just in the past few days, he’s read the words FREE, BOOK, KID’S CORNER, and OIL. I’m salivating for the moment it all kicks in and he can start reading everything! Oh Harry Potter … I have a new reader for you!
And since I promised you Extra-Special-Bonus-Content, here it is — a guest post I wrote about superpowers that became activated when I became a mom — check it out over here!
My son loves Transformers. Especially Bumblebee.
I wish I still had my cars! I loved those things! I remember the god phase – so hard for kiddos to understand. Maybe you should start carrying some lysol in case you have to crawl under a door.
Oh!! I must know where you found the Cartoon Network Transformers! My four year old is OBSESSED with Transformers, and like your son, is unable to put them together on his own. He has to rely on his older brother to do it for him (and boy, is he getting tired of doing it!).
The bathroom sitiuation is pretty dicey around here. I refuse to let them go in the men's room alone. I am thinking 18 is a good age for that?
You know, part of me misses every-other-day Jenners… the other part just thanks the blogging universe that everyone else seems to be having the same blogging-time-conundrum that I do… because I can barely keep up!
I had a Hot Wheels car as a kid that was a toilet. Like, the car was a miniature toilet with wheels. To this day I wish I could find that silly car.
I don't know how "against" choking hazards I am…I mean the kids have to learn SOMEHOW right!?!
Jenners you've won an award! Click here to get it
♥
LMAO Jenners!! Dang I really missed you!!
Another great post. Seriously – toys WERE all so much cooler than they are now. My dad still has this freakin' awesome race track from when he was a kid. It's so cool! Lead paint? Pshhhh. Who cares?!?!? And I think it's so stinkin' cool that the Little One is starting to read things – ahhhh! That's just awesome.
Thanks again for doing the guest post. You are awesome, my bloggity blog sister. 
Yeah!! Here via gmail. The Spotbot was a good one.
The Little One is quick. I would have loved to have seen the expression on his face when you tried to put it over on him.
As for the reading, I read to my son every night for years… until he was almost 12. Harry Potter and everything else. He could handle any author by then, but the reading was a ritual we both enjoyed. Today, he still loves to read.
Yeah for your little one! That's awesome that he has picked up some sight words!
Off to read your guest post…
I just love your posts and now they are even cooler cause the come less often.
I love the assortment of words he's learning. Oil???
I remember the matchboxes with the doors that would open and everything. Are they still as nice as heavily weighted as they used to be? Those things were awesome!
I love to get Hot Wheels for my grandson, but he is sooo smart that he knows all that he has…and he has a lot! And, them Transformers…I still think you need an engineering degree to work with them! But the kids just love 'em. Grandson loves Bumblebee and Optimus Prime!
Wow! I had NO IDEA that matchbox cars used to be so cool! Joseph is really into them right now too, and I had no idea how boring they actually were. Now I am dissatisfied….
I LOVE My spot bot….my son on the other hand is scared of it!
And I have a TON of matchbox cars from when my brother and I were little…I'll need to pull those out!
And your guest post….LOVED IT!
My hubby kept some of his cars and the original boxes. He doesn't think they make them like they used to either. He even found his box of Micro Machines. We are holding onto those since our 4 y.o. has the tendency to break his toys. Great post. Thanks for sharing and take care.
-Kiki
It's not just Matchbox cars. Compare an old erector set with the current plastic ones. No comparison. I attribute it to many things from the "good old days" being made from metal versus plastic.
BTW, I was saddened at your planned retreat from blogging for the rest of the summer. Here's hoping you hurry back in the fall. It just won't be the same until you are back in fine fettle!
This is a great post!! I have noticed about the hot wheel also. They are not made as well as they once were, but agree at least they are still $1. My boys are also trying to be the independent form peeing in the girls bathroom, but I can't send them into the boys bathroom by themself – very scary tring the find the happy medium!!
Stopping in from Writers Workshop.
Little children's comments about God are always amazing to me. And you're right about the matchbox cars…
Great post here and at the super secret bonus place. Loved 'em both.
I can feel for ya on the 'don't watch me while I go potty think.' My 3 yo does that just for poo-poo. It's ok to see him pee but not poo. Which is ok for me.
You always crack me up! I hope you enjoy your summer and I look forward to visiting you once a week.
Glad to have found you through Mama Kat. Will be back often.
My 3 year old has to go to the bathroom by herself…I dont like it much…but not reading yet. LOL. HOw old is your son?
Over from Kats.
Totally a decepticon- trying to mask as a autobot by putting the word "bot" on the front!
I meant – the door got stuck.. not stuff or even stuffed…
Sounds like you are having great fun! We have LEGO, Transformers and LEGO Star Wars plus Bakugan and Pokemon… Oh the fun, the fun!
As for locking themselves in the toilet… once it got stuff and my daugther had a panic attack and ended up — yep! – crawling under the door on the filthy floor.
I just about died when I saw the part about the SpotBot! That is way too funny!
He is one smart kid if he didn't fall for the Spot Bot!
And I totally agree they just don't make toys like they used to back in the 70s. My mom still keeps those toys in her house for all the grandkids to play and they love them!
I remember doing that matchbox car comparison when my husband pulled out his old car collection. You're right that toys are not made as well anymore. Really cool that you and your son enjoy your "transformer" time. Awesome that your son is starting to read. He'll be a great reader like his Mama
Great guest post too. I loved it! Funny as usual:)
First of all, I loved your guest post! I related to all of it!
I agree – they don't make matchbox cars like they used to…my brother has a killer collection that makes the current ones pale by comparison. Or how about the wooden fisher price people? Now they're all plastic, and tend to be much larger in size, you know, because of the choking hazard.
I love that you are so excited with your son starting to read – I was the same way when the Princess Nagger was doing that and surprising us all…now I can't get away with the little white lies because she'll bust me since she can (and does) read everything…
The SpotBot is an Autobot. It removes stains, so therefore, it is good.
How's that for a syllogism, Jenners?
And I am so totally with you on the Matchbox cars…people are so paranoid these days about small parts!
Great post. Loved the Extra-Special-Bonus-Content – made me think I was watching a DVD!
And yes, we all develop some superpowers at the time of delivery. My acute hearing and eyes in the back of my head remain, even though The Boy is now 14.