Kids leave their pawprints on my heart
If you have kids or grandkids between the ages of 1 and 10, you most likely are familiar with the Paw Patrol.
This animated canine crime fighting clan has been coming to the rescue of the fictional Adventure Bay area since 2013, when the TV series premiered on Nickelodeon.
You might wonder why I’m sharing this random information with you. I recently had the privilege of accompanying my 3-year-old granddaughter to see the “real Paw Patrol,” (her words) at the PP&L Center in Allentown.
While I always relish the opportunity to spend time with my grandkids, I must admit I was underwhelmed at the thought of attending this show. It was a work night, it was an hour commute, leaving directly from my work, and it was, after all, a kids’ cartoon made into a live show. I mean, how good could it be, right?
I admit it, I was wrong. It was not the content of the show, the acting, dancing, music, singing and bringing cartoon characters to life. That was all done very well, mind you, but that was not what struck me.
It was the kids. More than half the audience was made up of happy and engaged kids. For an hour and a half, kids sang along, danced, answered questions posed by the characters onstage and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
I didn’t see any unhappy faces, no whiny kids, no temper tantrums. Sheer childhood glee abounded. I saw perfect strangers sharing laughs, both kids and adults, all united in cheering for the good guys onstage. Honestly, it was fun!
Perhaps my favorite moment of the night, however, did not come from the stage. There was a little boy in front of me, perhaps around 18 months old or so.
He was happily playing with a newly purchased light-up toy from his seat on the aisle. Unbeknownst to his mom, he dropped the toy, and it rolled down a step or two, in the aisle.
However, a little blonde girl across the aisle noticed, and crawled under the metal banister in the center of the aisle to return that toy to its rightful owner. No one asked or told her to do it, she was not seeking fanfare or approval. She returned to her seat and her dad gave her an approving pat on the back and a smile. I daresay, he is raising her right. Then all went back to enjoying the show.
These two kids were of different races, different genders and different ages. None of that mattered. One kid stepped up to help another because there was a need and because it was the right thing to do. It was heartwarming.
I know it’s a stretch, but last night’s experience gives me hope for a better future. Thousands of kids came together to be entertained, and in doing so, taught me a great lesson in camaraderie.
We can all unite for a good cause, be it fictional or real. And as for Adventure Bay, the fine residents are in good hands protected by the Paw Patrol!