A child is not a vase to fill....but a fire to be lit

by teresa

Chris asked Nick to build a little fire the other night.

There were a few pieces of wooden fence that needed disposing of and I guess he just couldn't wait until trash day.

Anyway. He told Nick to get it started in the backyard and he would be out in a minute to help.

I left before any of this to pick up Kai and Ben from VBS. I had heard some mumble earlier about a fire and thought the younger boys would think it was cool to see them burn a couple of pieces of wood.

When we came home (around 8:40pm) I saw no fire. Luckily, I hadn't told the boys or there would have been some whining. I came in and asked Chris what happened.

Apparently, Nick's Ranger Commander's have taught the boy well.

How to build a fire 101 was definitely covered.

*hole dug

*dry wood

*kindling

*tee pee like building

*larger pieces on outside

*venting important

Chris said he opened the back door and the whole "outside" was lit up like daytime.

Yikes! He ran around the corner to where Nick had constructed his masterpiece. Nick was standing there, marveling in his creation, big grin, in front of a 30 foot tall fiery beast.

What the?

The hubby said it wasn't wide....just tall. Shooting straight up as tall as our house.

Embers popping and roaring, he said it sounded like machine gun fire.

Chris said as soon as he saw it he went into fire fighter mode...running through the yard to Nick yelling...PUT IT OUT...PUT IT OUT...PUT IT OUT!!

He felt that any minute the fire department was going to screech up, sirens awailin'.

Nick, begrudgingly began to smother and douse his impressive formation.

He came in moping, wet and blackened an hour later.

Poor Nick.

Chris assured him we will allow him to express himself pyrogenicly another time...another place.