09 Nov Baby you’re a Firework

Talk about weird. This month we celebrated Guy Fawkes. He, who is remembered for an ill-fated and well-known assassination plot against the British King and parliament in 1605.  Undoubtedly one of the more interesting assassination attempts in history. Decades on, the celebration of its failure continues via setting off fireworks.

These days, fireworks night is nothing more than pretty fire, we’re not really celebrating or remembering anyone, but who doesn’t love a pretty lit up sky right? It’s weird, sort of like burning money sort of. Buying something that’s destroyed in seconds, to not really remember someone who tried to blow-up parliament way back whenever. What a waste of money. Seriously. Just being honest here.

So after tossing around the idea of actually not buying fireworks this year, we somehow still found ourselves buying fireworks. We’d gone to friends for dinner. It’s weird how children can change ones’ minds so easily, and that boys will always be boys. The Dads, who once were boys and who really still are boys on the inside, were keen, the mamas not so much. Lucky for us we waited till the last moment to race out and buy some, and they were all on sale. Slight consolation.

Just after the sun had set we gathered and watched on as the Dad’s lit them and the kids begged to light them too. Mine have graduated from the days of sitting inside, watching through the lounge window, or bouncing on my knee wrapped in blankets and woolly hats. There’s no more covering of ears or screaming if the sparkler sparks come within a 2 metre radius of them. Progress and development is wonderful. These days they’d love nothing more than an open bonfire on the beach. Safety first, always have water handy. The kiddos did get to light some, which was the highlight of their night. While fireworks are dangerous, if kids are taught how to respect them and use them properly, they can easily make it through childhood without suffering any fireworks related injuries. We had colour. Lots of light, and great fun. “Boom boom boom, even brighter than the moon moon moon”.

The following night, we had some left over. My favourite fam bam wrapped up warm, it’s still a little freezing here in our New Zealand spring. Yes, weird. We set up a picnic-mat on our own front lawn and had a repeat performance of the night before. At some point Master 8 and his Daddy, known fondly as Deeda, decided to join several wicks together to make for a more spectacular show, but really only succeeded in making a firework-bomb. One babe enjoyed having her pic taken creating sparkler magic, and the other delighted in setting off anything she was allowed to. We roasted marshmallows too. There was camaraderie, we were in it together, there was love. I think I actually enjoyed Guy Fawkes this year. Like my mama always says, “make a memory”. Memories made. Not weird.