There may be other families who have similar stories to tell – but this is a short story about an O’Malley thing – an O’Malley “thing” being passed on to the next generation. I’m proud of it.
My nephew Cashel is 6.
He got 5,891 presents for Christmas – because of “the aunties” (me and my sisters) – and all of the adults in his life who basically love him to pieces.
One of the things I gave him he was not too thrilled by. Or – I think he was a bit overwhelmed by the thousands of presents he had received, and had a hard time taking it all in. He could only focus on one or two things. (I know just how he feels.)
Anyway – I bought him two Play Mobile guys (member those?) – and they were two little Revolutionary War Minute Men – and there’s a cannon, two cannon balls, and one horse. And a bucket for the horse.
I feared this would not attract his attention because of his overwhelming interest in Star Wars and Harry Potter, and I was right. Originally. He could not have cared less.
But two days later, I called home and talked with my mom. In the background, I could basically hear the sounds of some kind of war going on, running up and down the hallway. Explosions, etc. Our house was under attack?
“What’s going on over there?” I asked.
“Oh, Cashel is playing with your two soldiers. It appears that … a battle from the Revolutionary War is taking place in our hallway.”
“He’s playing with them? That’s great!”
“I think one of them is Paul Revere. He appears to be fighting in the battles as well.”
“That is so cute.” (Burst of pride in my heart that Cashel knows of the existence of Paul Revere.)
Then my mom said: “He knows about Paul Revere because of Longfellow.”
Let me repeat that:
My nephew Cashel knows about Paul Revere not because of a movie, or because he learned about it in school – but because we, as a family, have read to him Longfellow’s great poem “Paul Revere’s Ride”. That poem is in the legacy of our family – and it has turned him on to the possibilities of the Revolutionary War as imaginary material.
This is the legacy of being an O’Malley.
The printed word comes first.
I think that Longfellow would be pleased!!
Here’s my description of reading that poem to Cashel one night.
He’s on the right track. I’d say more kids know Paul Revere as the title of a Beastie Boys song.
You’ve gotta fight …
for your right …
to not be taxed on your breakfast drink.
I love it when young children exhibit such a thirst for knowledge and learning at such a young age. Cashel reminds me quite a bit of my cousin’s little girl, Beth who is 5. He’s a single dad with full custody, and once a week she spends time at my parents’ house while he works. They absolutely adore her (as do I), so they’re thrilled to have her over. My Dad was lighting a fire in the fireplace (keep in mind this is a ‘real’ fireplace with wood and the works, not electric), and Beth asked “Hey Den, when there’s a fire, where does the wood go?” His answer, “It turns to ash as the fire gets hotter.” Such an answer was simply inadequate. She wanted to know why it got hot, why it turns to ash, and basically where does the wood go that isn’t turned to ash. So he was stuck having to explain the physics behind the procedure until she said “Okay, now I understand.” She’s an incredibly bright little girl, and being in her company is so rewarding. It’s a pity I can only see her a few times a year due to the distance between where we live, and where my family lives.
Laura – Ha!! The physics behind wood burning to ash! Great story. Chidren amaze.
Every parent must have a basic knowledge of introductory physics in order to deal with every child’s “why is the sky blue” phase. They aren’t asking hypothetical dreamy questions – they really want to know WHY.
Dear Sheila:
The one thing that leapt out at me in your post was the last statement – that the legacy of being an O’Malley is that the printed word comes first.
I was raised the same way. It was my father’s fervent hope that I would be a leader and a visionary, and not one of the sheep. He believed in standards. I’m glad to see there are others with the same values.
Cashel will, with a lot of hard work and diligent care, be a leader someday!
Best,
– Will