Paying Attention To Our Children–Part 3 – Purposeful Living
These posts written by Todd (Amy’s husband) are designed to model a system of purposeful living. At least once a month, he spends time setting meaningful goals around one of seventeen core priorities.
If you missed it, consider reading the foundation post – Purposeful Living #1.
Correct Priority
Priority #5 – Social Health – Immediate Family–Children (Avery-Social & Emotional Health)
Preface
Many dads get the big stuff right. But it is the little things that make our children feel special, valued, and cherished. Paying Attention To Our Children will be an ongoing series highlighting the little ways in which I purposefully notice the little things in the lives of my girls.
In most cases I think I care far more about the details than they do, but even in these cases there is one thing of which I am certain – they know I love them. And a child who feels loved and cherished by their father (in addition to mom) is a child better positioned to thrive.
Goal Setting & Reflection Date
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Goal
Fix the rocket ship projection alarm clock she got for Christmas.
Goal Status
Completed (Ongoing-Monthly)
Thoughts
Avery received a Blue Hat Kids Rocket Ship Projection Alarm Clock for Christmas. I am going to be upfront with you from the start that this clock is a disaster. I am including a link back to Amazon so you can check out the clock for yourself, but you really do not want it. If you read the rest of this post you will find out why.
The clock looked like a rocket ship. The picture on the box looked pretty cool because you could project the time on to the ceiling in the dark. Avery was excited about the clock.
That evening my heart melted when I walked by her room after she had fallen asleep. She had pulled a chair right up next to her bed and the Rocket Ship Alarm Clock was sitting on top of it. And the time was being projected on to the ceiling. It was very cool looking and she was so cute!
About ten minutes later the alarm on the clock started beeping. I went into her room to turn it off so she wouldn’t wake up. I fiddled around with the buttons and the alarm did turn off. For five minutes. Then it started beeping again. Finally, I unplugged it.
The next night the same story happened all over again. Avery plugged it back in and fell asleep watching it project the time on to the ceiling over her bed. Around 11pm the alarm went off again.
This time I unplugged the clock and took it out of her room to figure out how to work the alarm. After 30 minutes of fiddling with it (including using the directions) I could not figure out how to work the alarm.
I wanted to toss the stupid thing at that point, but the memory of Avery’s joy in falling asleep while watching the time being projected over her head wouldn’t let me get rid of it. I was determined to figure out this ridiculous toy.
A week later I carved time out of my schedule to figure out the alarm. It took me over an hour, but eventually I figured out every single button including the alarm.
The Amazon reviews for this clock are scathing. And the reviews are deserved. Turning the alarm on and off demands a Master’s Degree in Engineering. It is pretty much impossible to teach to a young child. In addition, the time display does not light up and is impossible to read during the day unless you push a specific button. Finally, the Amazon reviews indicated the projection bulbs would burn out very quickly.
But I didn’t care. Avery loved it. And I loved watching Avery love it. The clock was worth saving even if it was hard to operate and wouldn’t last long. We will both enjoy this Rocket Ship Alarm Clock as long as we can.
Foundation Post
Outline Of All Purposeful Living Posts
Additional Posts In This Series
eakitch
September 10, 2012 at 2:47 pmI had to giggle while reading about your Rocket Clock fiasco! We have been through the same thing with the exact same clock! Great idea but terrible product! My son adores his clock and after 2 years it is a faded little projection on the wall near his bed. I think I lucked out with the alarm as I just pushed the buttons in random sequence and it turned off:)