It happens like in ten seconds. But it’s the best ten seconds of their day, well that is until the scramble to fill bags.
They wait anxiously for their turn. They’re giddy. They get to the front of the line and they look on nervously. They smile once the bat or stick is in their hands. They stand firm, look around for the O.K. and then let loose.
They begin beating the crap out of the superhero, the train, the cartoon character, the star with flying streamers, the oversized number, or the sports ball.
They are the highlight of the day. Some even have their own song … Dale, dale, dale no pierdas el tiro … Other times they get a countdown. But regardless of how it happens the kids love it. The parents love it too…that is until the candy starts to trickle.
This is what happened today. We were at another birthday party this weekend and it was filled with awesomeness for the kids. A jumper with a slide. Swings. A rock climbing wall and slide. Hot dogs. Mac and Cheese. Nachos. And cupcakes. Many cupcakes.
Kids were running around having a great time and then it was pinata time. All playing ceased. Everyone got in line, without being told to do so and after being re-arranged by height the pinata bashing began.
It was great toward the beginning when the two and three-year olds were bashing in the Spylanders Spyro Adventure character. But once a dent was made in the pinata and candy slowly trickled two-pieces at a time, it became the oh-my-God moments for the parents — as in oh-my-God I hope my kid’s head doesn’t get whacked in an effort to pick up some Laffy Taffy.
Pinata Time
When kids are in their pinata moment they hear you, but they’re not listening. So as the older kid smashes and bashes the pinata the Reeses Pieces, MilkyWays and Jolly Ranchers begin making their debut appearances. Now the four-year olds and three-year olds stand back because for some reason and rightfully so, they fear the bat and the pain it could cause. But the older kids the seven, eight and nine-year olds think they are invincible.
You hear parents screaming: Wait! Wait!
But kids don’t wait when Skittles and M&Ms are within arm’s reach. So they tell the kid with the bat Stop! STOP! … but he doesn’t quite stop in time.
Those close calls unite all parents and everyone is on high alert, grabbing any kid that wants to cross the point of no return.
So as another kid grabs the bat a parent says: “When we say stop, make sure you stop, O.K?”
Lemonheads and Twizzlers falling out. STOP! STOP! But Jose Canseco is still swinging away wildly, nearly decapitating some kid. This repeated several times until the pinata completely broke, stressing out all the parents. But once the candy rained down a sigh of relief from all the parents and yells of excitement from all the kids as they filled up their goody bags.
Kids … Sometimes there’s no getting in between kids and their pinata moments.
The Wish Factor 