When I bought my six-year-old, Ben, the book, "Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction" it was one of those moments when you think, "This is either one of the stupidest things I've done as a mom, or one of best. *Spoiler Alert* It was one of the best.
As I whipped out my wallet at B & N I saw myself being interviewed on CNN with the lower third reading "Mother of the Accused," crying saying something about how I thought the book would be fun for a little boy and his dad.
I quickly pushed the thought away, handed the book to my son and strike me in the eye with a spitball if he hasn't let it leave his side since.
The idea behind the book is it teaches eager boys (both child or grown up) how to make small weapons out of everyday items–hangers, pencils, paper clips, plastic spoons. It's like Macgyver's handbook for young men.
Ben and his dad have built a Siege Catapult (see a video on how-to) out of pencils, a bow and arrow out of a pen and rubber bands and, Ben's favorite, the slingshot. He takes that baby everywhere.
Part of the fun with the slingshot is gathering the objects to…sling. Mounds of rocks, bottle caps, even thumb tacks (I don't think so Mister) are neatly organized on his dresser, waiting for the next adventure.
The only thing that's pained me about the book is looking at the toys that cost me more than $11.53 that have now been tossed aside. It does require some help from the dads if your son is little. The added little jewel of this experience is Ben's dad is a former U. S. Green Beret whose specialty was weapons. Let's just say Larry has added a little "extra something" to each weapon.
I loved the book so much I bought it for my neighbor who is in eighth grade and he quickly got to the work of building his first weapon with his assistant Ben. That Nerf-loving, BMX-riding kid spent the afternoon with a book building his own toys. It was awesome.
Don't let the title scare you off–I'm eyeing you hover mothers out there–it's a great book for boys. It strikes a chord in boys that I rarely see in this age of video games and Zach Efron hair. It's all about being a boy. YAY!
Other stories I've written about raising boys:
Is there anything cooler than a five year old boy?
The stories of So-So, Ben's invisible (NOT IMAGINARY) friend
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