I have been having some crappy days at work so I decided to cure my bad mood by throwing myself into my children and playing and having fun and keeping the Girl Child (4+ years) up late so she could watch some baseball and hang out with me. Incidentally, it worked pretty darn well, too. Actually, the whole night was nice.
My wife was late so that meant I had both kids all to myself. I made dinner for my wife and me and ended up eating with just the kids. The Boy Child (2+ years), according to the nanny, did not eat at all today. Well, he ate just fine for me. Cut up pineapple (which he calls "anna", from ananas in Norwegian) and which he insisted on putting into his mouth himself with the fork, sliced mango (which he shared with his sister), over 1/2 of a huge grilled knockwurst, and quite a few spoonfuls of my very, very spicy black beans (after each spoonful he reached for his sippy cup and then kind of gasped "mor" or more). Tough kid.
The Boy Child was shipped off to bed and we came back downstairs to clean up the kitchen. The Girl Child had aftens, which is Norwegian for a snack you have after dinner -- she had a little bit of melted jarlsberg on bread with oregano on it, one of my wife's favorites. And then we went into the living room to watch baseball and hang out.
Kids, I think, have no conception of honesty/dishonesty. Up to a certain age, they don't seperate fantasy from reality -- it all blends together for them. But when they do talk truth, when they do speak honestly, unfettered by any social conventions or constraints, you get entertaining conversations like the following:
GC: Yum. I just farted.Me: Why did you say yum?
GC: Because my farts smell yummy.
Me: Why do you think they smell yummy.
GC: Because my poop smells yummy. [pause] Well, my poop doesn't always smell yummy. Sometimes, my poop smells really, really bad [head nodding hard for emphasis and said in a very earnest tone].
See what I mean? Still, so young and already so wise.
Posted by Random Penseur at May 19, 2005 08:50 AMLoving these bonding times you have with GC and I am sure we will also love the spoken words of BC when he is good and ready.
Thanks for the smile RP. Glad your remedy for the crappy work days helped. I am going to call my niece tonight and see if it can work for me as well.....
Posted by: Wicked H at May 19, 2005 09:10 AMToo funny!
Posted by: GrammarQueen at May 19, 2005 10:46 AM*snort*
Posted by: Jennifer at May 19, 2005 05:05 PMoh yes.
it is the simple small things...that can make one smile the broadest and replenish the heart.
girl child - has a way with that.
and by your sharing them here....has a way with them for all of us.
LMAOOOOOOOO!! I love that kid.
Posted by: Margi at May 20, 2005 01:42 AMI need to meet this child before she becomes the most famous comedian in the world. Then I can say "I knew her when!"
Posted by: Rachel Ann at May 20, 2005 05:30 AMI'm trying to type something coherent, but just keep stopping to laugh. Thanks GC!
Posted by: Howard at May 20, 2005 04:23 PMHmmm. I have no idea when I first learned the word "fart". But, I'm sure I was much older than 4!
Posted by: Tuning Spork at May 20, 2005 08:06 PMI think it was Carlin (in his younger days) who mentioned on one record or another: "Did you ever notice, your own farts smell rather good..?"
Sometimes I wish all the children I have been a parent to, could have been kept in the innocent state your GC finds herself now. But time passes and so they grow. Thanks for sharing your treasures.
Posted by: Guy S at May 20, 2005 11:18 PM