Surviving the Zombie Survival Guide
Last Halloween, I was at a bookstore and came across an interesting book called The Zombie Survival Guide. It was a reference book about how to prepare for and survive attacks from zombies and was clearly based on the past cult zombie classics. I thought it was a wonderful book. Little did I know that it would be part of lesson learning for my family and me.
I brought it home and the women in the house did not want me to read any of it to my curious 7 year old, Andrew, who is expressing a fascination with all manners of creatures of horror. So I resisted and put the book on the shelf.
Recently, I picked up the book again, and Andrew was very interested in having me read it to him. I gave him a disclosure that its contents were scary, but his curiosity won over his fear. My wife shook her head telling me that it was not a good idea ~ and, she proved to be right.
I read the first section of the book over a few bedtimes. The first part talks about the virus that infects people through zombie attacks and how they turn. It then goes on to discuss the characteristics of a zombie, how he or she moves, listens and the strengths and weaknesses versus a living person.
After the third session, there was no way Andrew was going to sleep alone ~ nor, with his 5 year old brother, Eric. It had to be with a person who was aged 12 or older. “Andrew, you said you were going to be all right,” I said, to which he replied, “Dad, I was mistaken.”
In my eagerness to share with my son, I went against my better judgement and now I’m going to have an extra bedtime companion for a while. Perhaps we’ll pick up the book at a later time but for now, it’s back to the Greek myths, the Arabian nights and the Spiderwick Chronicles.
Posted in -Berick, Contributing Writers | February 20, 2007
February 20th, 2007 at 8:03 am
I really LOVE Andrew’s answer! What a wise little boy. We can ALL learn from his response. Children are marvelous little people who teach us many things.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
It was interesting for me, his wife to read this article, especially because it shows how different parenting styles can be from a mother than for a father. Yes, as a mom and a woman, I tend to protect my children. Trying to save them from any pain, sometimes I might not let them experience some things. On the other hand, dad’s and guys, seem to be more curious, risk takers and have more of a philosophy that the child will best learn by experiencing some pain. I guess that this is the reason why the Universal Consciousness has provided male and female energies; the female to protect and insure survival and the male to allow for growth and risk taking. One thing that I feel embarrassed about is that we, the women at the home to whom Berick refers to, we all said “We told you so.” This phrase does not show respect for how different we are and that we all are looking for the best interest for our children. One thing that I admire of Berick is that he has never said to me “I told you so.” I learn a lot more by him not saying that than if he would say it. However, in the meantime we have gained not one but two nightly visitors who now cannot sleep without a bright light on their room or without an adult in the same room. So we just got a King size bed to be able to get a shut eye.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I have been thinking lately that I wish my parents had encouraged me to take more risks. I guess I was sheltered a bit more than my siblings since I was very premature and frail until my early teens, when my immune system finally strengthened enough for them to think that I might actually stay on the earth plane!
I can relate to what Andrew is experiencing. I was very impressionable, especially with movies. I had to sleep with a night light and the door open for quite a long time after seeing a scary movie. I would lay awake thinking that the shadows playing on the wall was a witch or demon coming to get me, rather than just the moonlight illuminating the moving branches of a tree!
February 21st, 2007 at 8:48 am
Hey!
I still sleep with a night light on!
Not because of fear, but because I don’t want to stumble over things when I get up to use the ‘bathroom’ in the night!
I Loved this story Berick ~ as well as Andrew’s answer ~ and also Gina’s observations….and Solara? I recall when in my crib (Yes, actual crib, not the new meaning these days!) the dancing shadows on the walls from tree branches, and I was quite sure they were ‘bad guys’ with guns, coming to shoot my sister and me!
Hooray for Male and Female energies, they certainly do offer up quite a balancing act ~
In Love and Much light…
February 21st, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Waith continually counsels us that it is in the differences that we learn and strengthen ~ and Gender Differences is a biggie these days!
Also, Fear is the only motivator, according to Waith! So, Berick and Gina, it appears that much has been learned ~ and continues to be learned ~ through the Zombie Survival Guide!!