Passing it on

One for the video highlights. True story. So I'm sweeping our kitchen floor and I hear three of our four kids bickering over Nanorsaur 2, computer game I have yet to beat my oldest son at. With his fists clenched Noah heads my way to plead his case to dear ol' dad. Being the ever-loving father I am, as well as knowing I need my own time on Nanosaur 2, I hop on my soapbox about sharing and being kind and allowing little bro and sis have their turn. With his arms crossed, tapping his foot, Noah is non too pleased. Ok different tactic. I decide to appeal to his altruistic side. "Noah" I say, "there comes a time in every older brothers life when they need to see themselves as the wisdom hander-downer, the one who hands down the wisdom to their younger siblings." I launch into an inspiring, at least to me, blend of anecdotes and illustrations of the older leading, guiding, teaching and sharing their wisdom about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to the yearlings; as my brothers did to me concerning kissing girls in the back seat, hitting the right ski jumps, driving without a liscense, shooting free-throws, aiming bee-bee guns, and the proper way to get out of mowing the lawn.

This actually got Noah and I talking all about the role of being an older brother and what it means to have that responsibility, which was truly precise. Noah was not quite sure what to make of all this when his little sis walked in and said, "Dad, can you help me with Nonoso." With a big smile on my face I said, "no, but I know someone who can", looking squarely at Noah. Sissy then says in her cutest 2 year old voice, "Noah, can you help me with Nonoso"? Noah, still with arms crossed looks at me, looks at her, looks back at me, rolls his eyes and says "let me show what I know, it might help." Grabbing his sisters hand he marches her into the compter room and in a flurry of inspiring detailed lessons began his journey as the wise hander-downer.