Hanging Out with the Hintons

We went over to hang out with Alex and Antonio today. As soon as we got in, the kids vanished into the boys' bedroom. After a while Alex and Aseem emerged and played in the living room as Janet & I talked. They built a jigsaw puzzle and did lots of silly things. A little while later Antonio came out looking like the classic absent-minded professor, gadgets attached all over his body. Then Supriya followed similarly bedecked. They apparently were space-rangers who wanted to go out into Janet's car which was their spaceship in reality. Janet convinced them to make a fort in the living room by bringing in two chairs from the kitchen and draping a blanket over them. It was great fun to watch.

It got me thinking. If I did not tell you any more details, you would normally assume that Alex & Aseem are of similar ages, as are Antonio and Supriya. In fact, Aseem is 4, Alex is 13 1/2; Antonio is 11 and Supriya is not quite 7! When it's playtime, the age doesn't matter. What matters is how well you get into the game and how well you play. That's how it is when I am singing or playing a boardgame. That's how it is in the world of work also. That is the "real world", not the age-segregated one of schools. My kids are already in the real world.