Racing Wheel Stand Invention Showcases His Inner Child

There is nothing better, or more amusing, than having my own personal “MacGyver” in the house.  My husband is a genius with duct tape, bungee cords, super glue, and binder clips.  Some of his projects have resulted in serious eye rolling from me.

There was the time when he rigged one of our baby gates with bungee cords in order to make it fit at the bottom of a staircase. Yes, the baby gate fit. Could we open or close the gate?  No. Stepping over the gate soon became a serious safety issue.

Of course, MacGyver also creates fantastic play opportunities for our children. The race track binder-clipped to a pop-up soccer goal was a huge hit. He even stacked up plastic containers at the bottom so all of my son’s Matchbox cars ended their race with a gravity defying jump.

MacGyver’s latest project is definitely worth sharing.  When the house is quiet and his family is sleeping, my husband becomes a video game geek. Right now, his favorite game is Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.  It’s a racing game that allows you to use a steering wheel, accelerator and brake. With PVC pipes, string, and a kid-sized table, MacGyver rigged up an invention to make it feel like he is really driving a race car.  I think it’s hysterical and brilliant at the same time, especially since retail versions of this “racing wheel stand” cost $130-$150.

It reminds me of a George Bernard Shaw quote, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” I love that my husband embraces his inner child because it’s a reminder to me that it’s okay to let the dishes pile up in the sink once in awhile.  Sometimes, we just need to play!