Paybacks

Tyler is getting a real education in child behavior as he teaches swimming lessons at the Midland Community Center. On the last day of classes, the students are separated into groups and rotated around to several lifeguards to learn various forms of water safety. Ty had the assignment of discussing canoe safety. As part of his introduction, he had to ask the following question: "What is the difference between a canoe, a motor boat, and a sailboat?" Some of the kids were accommodating, and gave the logical answers such as "It has a motor," or "It has a sail." But some answers were cause for consternation. When posed the question, one hyperactive boy replied, "A motor boat has...Oh, look! The slide is on!" Societal influence was evident in another child as he answered, "You can drink on a motorboat." The other random answers and behavior included: "A sailboat has a flag"; "A sailboat has metal on it"; "A motor boat has gas"; and the inability to stand or sit still for any length of time. One boy kept walking in circles. I'm thinking that the swimming lessons part of life guarding will become a divine lesson in patience for Ty. And some of you that remember him as a little guy will likely say that he's just getting a taste of his own medicine.