There is Just Something About a Red Solo Cup
Grandparents….OMG, they are sooooo old.
The word "grandparent" conjures up a picture in our mind's eye of a slightly bent over, grey-haired person, moving as if every step is calculated and painful. When looking closer, we see a roadmap of lines that tell the story of their decades of living. Others might picture Jane Fonda (84) or Lily Tomlin (82) from Netflix, Grace, and Frankie, someone with vigor, cutting-edge wit, and great wisdom. They appear to have endless energy and lineless faces either by great family genes or a fantastic plastic surgeon looking half their age. Both types bring insight, observation skills, and the time to help their grandkids be all they can be.
So, what does this shoutout on grandparents have to do with red solo cups? These disposable cups came into popularity in the 1970s, during the time when the practice of sharing glasses and communal cups was normal behavior. When the public realized that disposable cups weren't germ-ridden disease transmitters.
Any college student from the 70s till now knows and has used the red solo cup. I am guessing that some of you may have too. Limited only by your imagination, a red solo cup became a popular beer pong game, played both on college campuses and retirement communities. How about the perfect jell-o mold or a stackable bowling game?
My favorite use for these red objects is for the popular shell game. Starting with three cups set down in line with one ball visible and then secretly placed beneath one cup and moving it around to "trick" the player. The game's object is to guess correctly which cup the ball is hidden under. Our mental and visual skills are challenged as it is maneuvered and quickly moved around. We have to really pay attention.
To be a successful grandparent, I see our interaction with our grandkids as a real-life shell game. Our role is to closely watch those moving signs (the red solo cups) and decipher where our grandkids are (the ping pong ball) at that particular moment. The parents have a lot on their plate. During our interaction, if we observe, read the signs, and figure out where they are at that moment, we can help provide guidance and support. Are they anxious? Are they curious? Are they ready to learn about traditions? Are they looking to escape? Are they just having fun?
As with the shell game, we can sometimes miscalculate which cup the ball is under (where our grandkids are), so what do we do?
Shuffle the cups and look again for success. After all, with persistence, focus, and experience, we might get it right the next time or learn "tells," so we are ready to find where the ball (our grandkids) is.
So, raise your red solo cup to all grandparents out there who will continue to play the shell game as we make a subtle mark on creating the next generation.
If you are looking for some red solo cup activities check out www.cjcorki.com/resources or join the cause and follow us at cjcorki.com.
