Explosive

Nigel finally learned how to blow his nose. It was just one of those things I could never get him to understand. I've done everything--jumped up and down, involved supernatural animals (Be like a dragon! Blow up the kleenex!), the neighbors (Blast me all the way to Jackie's house!), the brothers, myself (this is a little like smelling dirty clothes--you forget what a bad idea it is until after you have emphatically blown mucous all over your face). Every method worked once or twice, but then lost its effectiveness before the cold was gone. He just didn't like the feeling of blowing his nose, and he couldn't or wouldn't do it consistently.

It was one of life's minor frustrations--the downside to my lovely o/c child who washes his own hands, wipes up spills on the floor, and changes out of dirty shirts. I was getting ready to train him on the bulb aspirator when a miracle happened.

Seen the TV show "Mythbusters" yet? It's pop science on steroids. The hosts set out to bust age old myths and urban legends using a combination of fast-talking entertainment-world smarts and uber-handyman building skills.

They're not scientists, but they think they are. They know all. They doubt the veracity of everyone's assumptions but their own, which can make the two of them a little hard to take. For me. Not for my boys. The boys love, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this show. Mostly because of the explosives.

If Jamie and Adam (we're on a first name basis) can work it in, and they usually can, most myths will at some time or another require explosive force to be used. One day Nigel was watching the show while J & A were attempting to bust the myth that you can paint with explosives. I still think you might be able to, but they couldn't build a contraption to get it done (therefore proving that no one can). The myth busting required a lot of big bangs. A few hours later, I found myself holding a kleenex to Nigel's nose. "Blast me," I suggested automatically.

"Uh, wif explosuvs?" he asked in astonishment. "Like dhe myfbusters?"

My eyes lit up. "YES! YES! LIKE EXPLOSIVES!" I yelled.

"Fire in dhe hole!" he yelled back cheerfully. And blew his nose.

It's been more than a week, but the novelty hasn't worn off. He blows his nose regularly and explosively. No questions asked.

And I...well, the boys were out in the snowy back yard today (another topic, 8 missed days of school, summer starts July 6 now) doing a "science experiment" involving diet coke and mentos. Thanks to the popularity of this explosive experiment with all boys everywhere, the manufacturer of Mentos has doubled--DOUBLED--its US sales. Diet coke and mentos are the new black powder. Let me tell you, boys do not have to be urged to science when it involves explosions. It's one of those things I just don't get--the joy, the thrill, the power of the blast. It leaves me mostly thinking about cleaning up the mess. But I've decided that the side effects are worth it. Clean noses forever! Fire in the hole!