What Comes Next?

Little Man is turning 7 on Sunday. Six has been an interesting year.....

At the beginning of 1st grade, he didn't really read yet, and he HATED trying. It was such a struggle for him. Now, he's reading with ease. At bedtime he reads a story to me! He told me last week that he loves books (Halleluiah!). That's the big pay-off right there.

At the beginning of 1st grade, he couldn't swim. Now, after going to swim classes most Saturdays since September, he's swimming like a fish. He can swim on his front, his back, underwater, and he isn't afraid to jump in, even off the big diving board!

At the beginning of 1st grade, he was different, somehow, than he is now. He has outgrown nearly all the clothes that he wore at the beginning of the year, but it's more than that. He thinks about things. He questions things. He asks lots of questions that, truly, I cannot answer. I'm seeing more of his "mind at work," I think, and it makes me think about how much I need to work hard keep him challenged. How will I stay one step ahead of him? How long do I want to? Because at some point, he'll "overtake" me, he'll find his own passion, and run with it, and that will be the greatest reward.

A Lifetime Of Fishing

It's possible that my daughter may not even like to fish. Maybe she'll think worms are gross, or it's cruel to beat pickerel with a whacking stick because they eat all the Bass eggs. Maybe she won't want to go in the lake because of all the green slime that accumulates in August.

There are a lot of "maybes", but only one lifetime fishing license for Maine children. And if your child is under the age of five, it's a great deal despite the odds.

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries, you can purchase a lifetime fishing license for your child under the age of five for only $150 . For children aged 5-16, the price goes up to $300. Either way, it's a good deal, but you're rolling the dice as to whether your child will even like to fish or if they will be spending their adult years in Maine. I'm guessing that the State of Maine is counting on these odds or they wouldn't make it such a good deal.

Maine law requires residents to purchase a fishing license after the age of 16. If I add up the number of licenses I have purchased in my lifetime at the current rate of $24.15 (with handling fee and taxes) I get a total of $338.10 . Granted the cost of a fishing license has gone up since I was a teenager, but it will only continue to inflate in price for the future. You do the math.

I can't guarantee my daughter Rosa will enjoy fishing, but I can guarantee she will be dragged to my father's summer camp in Winthrop for most of her childhood. Whether she thinks large green fish that resemble alligators are icky or awesome, I can't predict. Either way the lifetime fishing license is a wicked good deal.

For more information, you can go to the state's website at http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/index.htm