Build and Grow

Saturday, 14 January 2012

Well, this morning, I found myself at Lowe’s again.

If you read THIS BLOG POST, you’ll see my first experience with Lowe’s was less than stellar. But if you read THIS BLOG POST, you’ll see that things kind of worked out okay.

It turns out, Lowe’s hosts these “Build and Grow” events on one or two Saturday mornings a month. I learned about them when I read THIS BLOG.

Owen and I had a fun time. We showed up with our completed entry form and the employees gave Owen an apron, a pair of safety goggles, and a kit. We then sat down on overturned buckets (I loved that!) and ripped open the kit.

While Owen created a little castle out of wood (complete with drawbridge), I watched him and helped out when he asked. Mostly, he couldn’t get the nails started unless I was holding the wood in place for him, but otherwise he managed on his own. I pointed out that he installed the door backwards, but that turned out for the better because then the Lowe’s insignia is hidden. He also put the window stickers on differently than the instructions showed. I didn’t even notice this until Owen showed me, but then I told him he was free to put windows where ever he desired.

Some of the other parents were total helicopters. One dad even sat behind his daughter and held her hand in his as he hammered in the nails. He must have said, “Here, let me do that,” about five times. Another parent walked up to the front and requested a replacement kit because their kid had nailed one of the walls to the floor in a kittywampus fashion. And yet another parent meticulously applied the window and brick stickers just right.

I’m not sure why these parents were creating more work for themselves. I mean, who cares how the castle turns out? For one thing, it’s just a toy. If Owen was, say, helping me install a new bathroom cabinet, I would be a little more insistent that he did the tasks “right,” but a toy? Come on. For another thing, it’s free. Free people. Jeez.

Anyway, I don’t mean to whine. All in all, we had an excellent experience. The Lowe’s employees presented Owen with a certificate and a patch to put on his apron (yeah, he got to keep the apron and the goggles). During the drive home, Owen reiterated his happiness with the event and he expressed a desire to go there again tomorrow, only this time with a friend.

Look! Owen and the castle have the same expression!

Here’s the website for signing up for the Build and Grow sessions. If you have an elementary school child, I encourage you to take them. It was fun, free, and lasted about an hour. Maybe I’ll see you there…