Not that I have anything against it -- it's just not something that ever crossed my mind to go to. On Saturday Kael got to go to a Monster Truck Jam with his buddy Josh. Kael actually went by default because originally it was supposed to be Josh and Ryan -- the two boys who are totally into cars and trucks. Kael is our little Nature Boy, one with Bugs, Creepy Crawlies and Reptiles. (ohmmm...) Cars and trucks are low on his list of preferred toys to play with.
Anyway, poor Ryan got hit hard with the flu Friday morning and it was clear that he wasn't going to make it to the Monster Jam. Erin asked if I wanted to take Kael and I told her I'd ask him. I really had no idea what he'd say so I had to be sure he knew what he was going to see.
Me: Baby, do you want to go to a Monster Truck Jam with Josh?
Kael (with a concerned look on his face): Will I like it?
Me (thinking because it's about trucks): Sure, you'll like it! It's a lot of fun. You get to see big huge trucks race around.
Kael: But will I be scared?
Me: Why would you be scared? It's just a bunch of big trucks.
Kael: What about the monsters? Are the monsters scary?
Me (thinking ohh): Baby, it's just called a Monster Truck Jam because the trucks are so big. There are no monsters there. I promise. It's not scary at all.
He doesn't really look convinced but is game to go to spend time with Josh. I had him call Erin to ask if he could join Josh and the boys end up chatting on the phone.
Kael: Hi Josh! Can I go to the Monster Truck Jam with you tonight?
Josh: Sure Kael!
Kael: Are there going to be monsters driving the trucks?
(I'm a little offended that he didn't believe me and had to get confirmation from a peer.)
Josh: What?
Kael: ARE THERE GOING TO BE MONSTERS DRIVING THE TRUCKS?
Josh: No! There are going to be drivers driving the trucks, silly!
It's obvious that I needed to prep my kid for tonight. So per Erin's advice, I went to the official Monster Truck Jam website for video clips of past races.
I have to admit they were pretty interesting. Huge assed trucks running over and flattening cars, racing and flying over bumps, and my personal favorite: racing around on three wheels after your truck has flipped over 360 and one wheel popped off. Clearly there is a whole other world I've yet to visit.
Anyway, as we're watching these trucks bang around the race track, Kael says: "Are they supposed to crash around like that? That's not good. They're breaking their cars. Are they going to get in trouble?"
Me: No, Baby, they are supposed to race around like that. It's OK. That's why it's so cool.
(It's evident to me that he's not understanding the joy of wanton destruction.)
We watch a little more - this time of the freestyle lap where the trucks do whatever they want: flatten cars to the ground, jump over cars, wheelies, etc. This time he looks really worried.
Me: What is it, Kael? What's wrong?
Kael: Are there people in there?
Me: Of course there is. There's someone driving the truck
(Boy, he's really caught on the whole Monster part.)
Kael: No, Mom. Are there people in the smashed cars?
OHH. That's what he's concerned about? Ugh. I quickly tell him that those are empty old cars and no one's in there and those cars are meant to be smashed. He still looked worried and asked again: Are you sure there's no one in those smashed cars?
I start to rethink the whole event, that maybe he shouldn't go. I don't want him traumatized for any and all future car rides. But after some more reassurances, he's still game to go so the boys motor off to pick up Erin and Josh.
As much as I love my men, I have to admit it was very nice to have the house to myself: Malia went to bed at 7:00pm and it was blissfully quiet. The boys eventually came home a little past 10:00pm with Kael dead asleep in the car. He hadn't napped all day (he was too excited) so that wasn't surprising.
The next day he raved about the race and has been sleeping with the Monster Truck Erin gave him ever since. He hasn't made any weird, the sky-is-falling comments regarding riding in the car (yet?), so there's no residual after-effects of watching the race. I've only gotten a few odd looks from strangers when he's talked about his favorite truck in public: Grave Digger. I don't know what shocks them more: that at 4 year old boy is saying "Grave Digger" or that I've taken him to a Monster Truck Jam.
All in all he had a great time. Thank you Erin, Dennis and Josh!
Here are some pictures taken by Erin of the event.
The boys settling in. Kael has that "Am I having a good time, yet?" grimace.
Josh and his protective head gear.
I love this picture of Kael. It makes me laugh every time I look at it.
The race track.
Kael's favorite truck (Grave Digger in green) is racing against some other truck. Neither Mai Boys can remember the other truck's name.
It's a close race.
Grave Digger in its Freestyle lap.
Ouch -- that's gonna leave a mark.
A final picture of the boys. It looks like they're singing Kumbaya.
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