See what I did there? ^^^ I’m 100% sure it’s been done before, but that doesn’t mean I can’t feel clever about it.
Anyway…
I can remember attempting kite flying a couple of times as a kid. And if memory serves me correctly, it was never successful. Either there wasn’t enough wind. Or it was too windy. Or the kite was a dud. I can remember my father running across the yard with the kite in an attempt to catch the breeze, and a few brief moments of exhilaration when the kite would rise up in the air… before it all came crashing down.
So when Charlie started requesting that we get a kite, I found the cheapest thing I could on Amazon and put it in his Easter basket. It would at least be fun to try. And finally, a day presented itself. Chris was home, (I realized soon after purchasing the kite that this would have to be a whole family affair, as I wouldn’t be able to assist Charlie with a kite while wrangling two other kids.) the weather was cloudy, but pleasant, and the weather app told us there was a 10mph breeze in the air. It would be impossible to fly a kite in our backyard, but we live down the hill from a patch of city-owned green space with lots of open grass to run and lots of open sky to fly. So we took the kids and the kite and made our way up the hill with high spirits and low expectations.
And you guys, it FLEW!
Like, for a long time!
Even Charlie was able to hold the kite up on his own!
Chris didn’t have any successful kite flying experiences in his childhood either, so we were both pretty thrilled.
We flew the kite on the hill until it was time to head home for dinner. All duly impressed with our little rainbow kite.
When we got home I asked Charlie how he liked flying a kite. He replied. “it was pretty fun, but not as exciting as I thought it would be.”
The child clearly needs to experience some kite flying failure in his life. I, on the other hand, spent the rest of the day singing kite flying songs.
When you send it flyin’ up there
All at once you’re lighter than air
You can dance on the breeze
Over houses and trees
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite!
Oh, oh, oh!
Let’s go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Let’s go fly a kite!
- “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” from Mary Poppins
