eatmypixel

In April my girlfriend’s nephew celebrated his second birthday. During this time in Austria, we were already coming up to 8 weeks under lockdown and things were starting to relax in stages in the outside world, however people were still advised to leave their apartments only for exercise.

As it was his second birthday, one where he would better comprehend what was going on, we decided we would make him some cards and drop them off on his doorstep at a safe distance, give him at least a tiny amount of celebration to his day, something different from just another day stuck in the house again.

I asked what his absolute favourite thing in the world was. My girlfriend told me that he was obsessed with cranes and would always stop and point up at them. I printed off some basic crane pictures and told Luca that we were creating a special card for Finn.

“Why?”

“Because it’s his birthday”

“But why are we making him a card?”

“Because he is celebrating his birthday during a lockdown and he will not be able to enjoy it with his family and friends”

“But why?”

“Because of the Corona Virus”

“Why?”

“Because its spreading around the world and everyone needs to stay indoors to try and not spread it..”

“But Daddy why….?”

“…….. Luca just please just grab your pens and start drawing!”

As he drew the rudimentary colourful crane, the wooden box in the corner of the room caught my eye. This is the box where all the spare cardboard is collected to construct our “Cardboard machines.” Marble runs, sweet dispensers, monster traps, supercars.. you name it we’ve tried to build it.

I eyed up the long cardboard tube that “Santa” accidentally left while wrapping Luca’s presents last Christmas

“Now that would make a good crane, I think I’ve got some string in the kitchen and a chopstick” and with that we set about building a birthday crane.

In the beginning he would peer over his shoulder taking his attention away from his drawing for only a moment. It wasn’t until the crane really started taking shape, held together by oozing hot blue glue, that he pushed his felt tips aside.

Like putting one foot in front of the other things just seemed to fall into place. First the base to hold the pole, the frame to hold the string and a chopstick to reel it all in.

It wasn’t until we created the crane hook with cheekily hidden magnets inside that the questions began.

***“Daddy… is this for Finn?”
***

***“…Yes”
***

***“Why don’t we make this one for me and you can make him another one?…”
***

***“erm.. no.. the whole reason we are making this is for his birthday”
***

***“But Daaaddddd.. Can you make two?”
***

“No, we only have time to make one”

“But Daaaddddd..”

After attaching the crane hook to our newly made crane it was time for a test. We attached it to one of our other cardboard creations, the cardboard Lamborghini Countach, and did a test run with two little 1kg bars for ballast. It went up fine, albeit slowly, and the square ends of the chopstick allowed the car to stay up at the top without dropping. Perfect.

https://www.cinnamon.video/watch?v=376100774276498472

https://www.cinnamon.video/watch?v=376102410818421836

https://www.cinnamon.video/watch?v=376102883617145942

Luca did a couple of extra hundred test runs with a toilet roll and we were ready for painting. To help him choose a colour palette we rummaged through his box of Hubelino pieces and found the corresponding paints, yellow, green, red, blue and white.

I put some music on loud for inspiration and let the mess begin!

https://www.cinnamon.video/watch?v=376103514247529572

https://www.cinnamon.video/watch?v=376104360372864118

When all was done, we stopped and looked at our creation. What was once a few pieces of scrap cardboard was now a smile bringing machine and it was ready to bring joy to a little boy on his second birthday.

We dropped off the cards and gifts at the birthday boy’s front door and before we stepped back to a safe social distance, Luca showed him how it worked, and what he needed to do to pick up things.

What began as a kind gesture became an unexpected lesson for Luca. To give something to someone else, what you really want for yourself.

**I am so proud of him
**