“No job is too big,
no pup is too small!” 
Ryder
(Paw Patrol)

It’s not the ’50s anymore, that’s for sure. In my early childhood, preschool television programming included such classics as Romper Room, Captain Satellite, and Captain Kangaroo. They were all fairly tame, mildly educational, and captivating for the preschool kids of my generation who hoped that Miss Nancy would see us through her magic mirror.

In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, when our three sons were preschoolers, in addition to similarly tame and increasingly-educational programs such as the highly-acclaimed Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, a new genre of preschool television emerged when Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo starred in the action-adventure Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This sensation was followed by another action-packed preschool favorite Power Rangers. These two programs spawned a lucrative business of colorful action figures which were available at toy stores everywhere.

Three of our five grandkids are currently under the age of five. One of their favorite programs is Cocomelon, which follows the life experiences of a young married couple, their three children, TomTom, YoYo, and JJ, and a number of other characters from their neighborhood. One other show they enjoy is the sensation Paw Patrol.

In each episode of Paw Patrol, viewers are introduced a person who finds himself in some kind of trouble. Needing assistance, this person turns to Ryder, a ten-year-old tech wizard who drives a high-tech jet ski and lives and works with a group of young dogs. Each pup is gifted in a different way. When Ryder receives a call for help from a member of the community, he calmly assesses the situation, chooses which of the dogs he will need to rescue the person in distress, and, relying on the specific skills of the dogs, resolves the crisis in a timely fashion. Ryder has total confidence that his collection of dogs can accomplish anything successfully.

So why am I writing about Paw Patrol today? Well, for Christmas 2023, Kathy and I gave Steve, Morgan, and their girls tickets to see Paw Patrol Live at the San José Civic Auditorium. The show was scheduled for 10:00 this morning. Penny and Scarlett have been anxiously anticipating this event for the past few days. Kathy and I had the pleasure of taking care of their one-month-old brother, Henry, here in our home during the performance.

I’m grateful that the girls are learning an important life lesson, one which should serve them well throughout their lifetime: No job is too big, no person is too small.