The Apprentice

Original Air Date: 08.29.04
Opening Song: "Can't Get It Back" - Mis-Teeq

Yesterday I woke up around 6 in the AM, shaved, showered, ate some doughnuts, and went to work. I got off at 3:00, came home, and waited for my aunt, uncle, and cousins to arrive (they drove down from upstate New York).

Typically, I don't really like being around children, but I actually fun with my 6 year-old cousin, Matthew. This kid looks a LOT like me... except he's a little on the chubby side. He spent the rest of the day stalking me, fascinated by every thing I did. I tried my best to entertain, so we played CLUE, Checkers, and my version of Chess.

What made me happiest was when I showed him a few of my sketches and he liked them so much that he wanted to draw with me. He colored inside the lines and everything. Afterward, he wanted to show his momma, so we showed her all of the illustrations. And she was very proud and impressed by her son.... he was thrilled! (So thrilled that he wanted to get right back to work and create his own folder of art) Little Matthew even told me a secret because he knew I'd keep it "between us artists," as he put it. Good kid.

What did I learn that day? I learned how important it is to encourage a child to explore his/her talents and how rewarding it is to give someone a stronger sense of pride. Also, it's not always torture to spend some time with little ones; not all of them are Satan's helpers.