I vowed to keep it clean both inside and out, top up the consumables when indicated, maintain the correct tyre pressure and drive it properly with respect for other road users. It was pretty similar when I got my first proper car, a company car. I at least extracted every possible second of play from the toy from its shiny first appearance to its eventual destruction by impact with a wall, burial in the sandpit in the garden, cremation in a glorious toxic plume of smoke or abandonment in the darkest recesses of the attic. They are the way they are because they denied themselves the true value, play value of the actual toy vehicle. I have no time now for those who managed to save the original packaging in their childhood and are reaping the rewards by selling on E Bay. Typically this action resulted in a torn and unuseable carton and it was quickly discarded. It seemed a shame to prise open the flaps of the ends of the cardboard box. The handover of hard earned cash was the starting point, a transaction in return for a small and brightly coloured rectangular box, slightly weighted and with its contents just moving about slightly as you left the shop with the item tightly gripped in a small hot hand. The anticipation and excitement was on many levels. This is of course an extreme example of the loss of innocence as a parent.Īs a young child I clearly remember the gifting or pocket money purchase of a new toy car by Corgi or Matchbox. There would be some dramatic value to mentioning the event at say, a large family gathering or weaving the story into a Dad's speech at a wedding. Some closure may be achieved by telling that child, when at a reasonable age and level of understanding and temperament, the sorry truth or just blurting it out when it feels to be to your advantage faced with stroppy or disrespectful behaviour. Whatever you perceived as perfection is no longer the case. The infant may be asleep and there may be no reaction and no harm may be done but in your deepest conscience you know what has just taken place and the memory of it will stay with you forever. Chances are you are in a safe environment with a limited vertical distance and hopefully onto a soft surface such as a cot, bed or changing mat. First time parents are nervy in handling the infant and I was no different being fearful of a fumble, juggle and a spill.īabies are actually quite resilient and in spite of your best endeavours and taking every care in the world there will, do not feign innocence or shock in this revelation, be that moment when you lose you handhold and grip and drop the little mite for the first ever time. There is the magic moment of their first breath in the world and cries of vulnerability as they seek a safe pair of hands and reassurance in touch and sound. I speak from experience as a three time father to our now grown up offspring. This could be anything from a brand spanking car to a pair of best shoes, from a piece of state of the art technology to an arrival in the family in the form of a new born baby. There will have been scrimpings and sacrifices to enable it to happen. It may be that special thing that you have saved up for in order to afford it. You will clearly remember that feeling having been given a birthday present in its nice wrappings or presentation packaging. There is a determination, upon receiving something new, to endeavour to keep that thing in an "as new", pristine and perfect condition.
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