A Summer “Fishing Report” from Multiple Perspectives

Recently, forgetting that we still have a couple of small, salvageable fishing nets, I took Baby-Girl to the dollar store for yet another net. That evening, the kids and I headed out to the beach. I plopped my beach chair in the sand and they walked down to the water, net and bucket in hand.

IMG_0533Perspective is an interesting thing; people can experience the same event and yet leave with vastly different perspectives and narratives. While sorting through the pictures afterward, I began thinking about how it’s possible that my perspective on the evening may have contrasted with my kids’ perspectives. Here, then, is both my recollection of my own experience and my guess as to my kids’ experiences that evening based largely on snippets of post-fishing conversations.

IMG_0522My perspective:

Me: Honestly, this is the best dollar I’ve spent in years. Look at the three of them, combing the water for fish. They’re having a classic childhood summer experience. It doesn’t really matter that they’re not catching much; it’s the experience of being out there in the surf that counts. They’ll remember these types of moments forever. Plus, now I can relax, watch the kids, and listen to the ocean. I have arrived! This is the life.

Me: (an hour later) I am so relaxed right now, especially with all this uninterrupted time to think. I think I’ve managed to plan three social events and make serious headway in solving both the problem of self-driving car affordability and the current lice epidemic in America’s schools.

Also, I think I could fall asleep right here and right now like a boss.

Thank you, dollar store. Thank you.

IMG_0527My kids’ perspectives:

BG = Baby-Girl, OS = Older son, YS = Younger son

BG: (using the net) I don’t think this net is very good. I’m not catching many fish.

YS: No, it’s because you are doing it wrong.

BG: No I’m not. (short pause as both recover from BG’s fine exhibit of rhetoric)

YS: Okay, now it’s my turn to use it.

BG: No it’s not. I just got the net. Besides, I’m the one that asked Mom to buy it anyway.

YS: Well, I thought about it first.

BG: That doesn’t count.

YS: It does count, because I said something to you about it and that’s where you got the idea.

BG: No it’s not! I have my own ideas! I already had the idea months ago. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you have all the ideas.

YS: Yeah it does.

OS: (ignoring the fray) Hey, you guys want to play _______________ (insert favored video game of the week here) when we get home?

BG: We’re not talking about ______________ (favored video game of the week). We’re talking about who had the idea to get the net.

YS: I did.

BG: Stop! We already discussed this.

YS: No we didn’t.

BG: Stop! You’re being mean.

YS: No, I’m not. You said “discussed,” which is past tense. We haven’t finished discussing it so you’re wrong.

BG: Stop! (stomps foot) That’s mean.

YS: (laughing) Okay, okay. Can I have the net now?

BG: I’m not done yet.

YS: It’s been five more minutes.

BG: I don’t think so.

YS: I think so.

BG: I think it’s been two minutes. Maybe I should ask Mom for help catching a fish.

YS: She won’t know.

BG: Well, I have to catch a fish before I can give you the net.

YS: Why?

BG: Because I can’t leave until I find a pet.

YS: You’re fishing for a pet? I was going to try field dressing it. (Field dressing is his new favorite term, so it’s a safe bet that he worked it into the conversation somewhere.)

OS: Pretty sure if you field dress it, it won’t make a good pet anymore. I thought we were releasing all of our catches.

YS: (looks over at me) Wait. Is Mom actually sleeping? (laughs hysterically)

BG: I think so. Her eyes definitely look shut. I can’t believe she’s going to miss me catching my next pet.

OS: Hard to miss something that’s not happening.

IMG_0539And there you have it. It’s funny: All this perspective kind of makes me wish summer lasted forever.

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