How to become an instant hero to any child under the age of nine ......

Me and Spongebob

As part of my job as a radio personality, I am required to make certain personal appearances including grand openings like the one I did last week at a Chicagoland Lowe's store. I used to love doing these "stops" as we call them in the radio biz (they bring in extra cash and you get to meet your listeners - both very important) and used to schedule four or five a weekend. But that was BEFORE. Before, I had a husband and two boys; 3 and 2 years old. (I know: what was I thinking?) Now I reserve the majority of my weekends to spend with them. So when the station manager called me to say that I had been scheduled for a two hour stop at Lowe's with Nickelodeon's cartoon character Spongebob Squarepants on what was projected to be one of the warmest Saturdays thus far this year, I was less than pleased. Relunctantly I agreed since it was a little late in the game for them to find someone else.

Needless to say it was a LONG two hours.

While smiling, shaking hands and kissing babies, all I could think about was what I would do with my babies once I got home. Whether or not the park near our house would be too crowded or if playing in my newest project - the garden - would be better. I relunctantly allowed one picture with Mr. Bob to be snapped before I beat a hasty retreat and that was only to make the sponsors happy.

At last I was free to spend the rest of the afternoon with my family. And it was glorious.

An email was sent to me later that night containing the picture of me and Spongebob. I had obviously failed to realize the magnitude of what I had done. When I casually showed it to my son, his eyes popped open so wide his three-year-old forehead almost disappeared and I detected a little moistness in the corner of one as he wrapped an arm around me and pointed at the screen, whispering the words, "Mommy, do you know who that is? That's Spongebob Squarepants." There was such awe, wonder and raw emotion in his voice, I almost began to weep with him. At my son's insistence, I saved the picture to my hard drive and long after I was done working, he would wander over and just stare at the picture, running a finger across the screen as if he could hardly believe it was real.

He went to bed talking about Spongebob, and when he woke up instead of his usual kiss and "good morning", he rubbed his eyes and requested that I call Spongebob and invite him to church. I could just picture it - Jesus and Spongebob Squarepants.

It was then that I realized I had been elevated quite a few notches in the eyes of my eldest child. I thought I was pretty cool anyway but now it's official. And you know, I plan to use this to my advantage for at least the rest of the week ..........