National Punch Day 2012

It's amazing what kinds of things will spark meaningful conversation with your children.  During lunch today, I was sitting down with the boys as they were enjoying their Tropical Punch Kool-Aid Jammers.  We were discussing how today, September 20, is National Punch Day (hence the Tropical Punch Kool-Aid Jammers).  Jr. and I were discussing how if the conditions were right (meaning the kids are using good behavior, everyone does their homework, and there's enough time), Nichole and Jr. would be able to play LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean on the Wii later (because some of the characters punch each other and it's National Punch Day).  Then Jr. and I got into a discussion about how different families allow different things in their homes.  There are some families who wouldn't allow their children to play that game because it has punching in it.  And that's fine.  There are other games that I wouldn't let my children play, but I'm comfortable with the Wii LEGO games.  Everything is made of Lego pieces so when something or someone gets destroyed, they just fall to pieces.  And the kids know that even if characters punch each other in the game, we shouldn't do that in real life.  So Jr. and I had a nice little discussion about some of these things.  Every home and family is different, but it's important that our children know what is and what is not acceptable in our home.  I also won't let Nichole and Jr. watch the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, at their age, though I know some other families who do.  But I will explain to the kids what's going on in the game because it's based on the movies and I have seen the movies.  In fact, Jeremy and I watched the first one last night to round out Talk Like a Pirate Day, even though we did our big celebrating early.

P.S.  As I was writing this post, Jr. called to me from the other room where he was reading.  He pointed out to me in the book where one of the characters playfully punched another in the arm.  National Punch Day!  Woohoo.

Jeremy and I have talked about when our kids get older and they realize that not everybody celebrates so many holidays.  I wonder how many people will start celebrating more because of our children's influence.