The moment when a child knows what you’re thinking

Children are a fabulous, compact, confusing version of us.  What they see and do may not immediately be proof of them being from you.  Stop for a moment, twist what they’re saying, pronounce it like Urkel from Family Matters would and you just might understand what they’re trying to tell you.

Today I was out in the garden with both boys and Jake went over to some white flowers in the ground.  He picked up a handful of them and said “these are for mommy.”  Grrr…don’t pick the flowers I told him from 10 feet away.  “Can I pick these flowers”, he said again.

I walked over to him and explained that we can’t pick these flowers because they were small and not ready to be picked.  “Can I kick these flowers”, he asked.  No, you can’t kick the flowers either I explained to him.

When I squatted down to tell him that he can’t kick the flowers he put him arms around me and said “I love you so much daddy”.

Dad alert- that was very sweet.  I looked up to see if it was a skit that he and his mom had hatched, but it wasn’t.  It was just a super sweet thing that parents love to hear.

I felt bad because earlier that morning his mother and I were talking about how many questions he asks during the day.  It an exhausting, concentric circle of conversation where 5 minutes can be spent talking about if it’s washing hair night.  We then realized that one day he’ll prefer to spend time alone or with his friends and won’t be asking us as many questions as he is now.

After his morning spent trying to kick the flowers he went to his Nonny’s house.   He loves going there, it’s not like we dressed him up in a gingerbread man outfit to go to some spooky house in the forest.    During their errands in the car he started his litany of questions.

Where did you buy it?  Where are we going?  Where is Daddy?  Are we going to Home Depot?  What are we going to buy?  Are we going to buy some seeds?

It was the machine gun series of questions that make you tune out what the sonic youth of your loins is saying.  All of sudden he said the one question that made Nonny stop.

“Am I asking too many questions”, said the 3.5 year old.

No, you’re not asking too many questions said dad.  I won’t take them for granted anymore.  I’ll still laugh about them with mom when you’re asleep; but I’ll do my best to answer them in a respectful manner when you ask.