Trampoline

Jo and I (read "Jo") gave Vivian a trampoline for her 3rd birthday. We (read "Jo") finally got it assembled out in the back yard. Vivian now wants to go jump there as soon as she wakes up. I took my camera with me when we went out there this morning.





She's already got rules. "Daddy - come inside and sit. Don't jump when I jump. You are too big". And when she's done "Daddy - can we drink some hot chocolate? I am cold".

Life and Death, Again

Vivian and I are driving to a certain DQ in Kyle where she is going to be handed over to Carol for a fun-filled 24 hours.

"Daddy - why does Ava have two mommies?"

I think it's another one of those - why does she get two mommies and I get stuck with a mommy and daddy type discussions. I reply that kids can have 2 mommies or 2 daddies or 1 mommy and 1 daddy or just one mommy or just one daddy among other possible combinations. She wants to know where Ava's daddy is. I honestly say I don't know. Vivian eyes light up and she says she know who Ava's daddy is. I ask. She replies:

"Pastor Scott".

I am surprised. After I recover, I tell her that Pastor Scott is certainly not Ava's daddy, and she shouldn't go around saying that. She nods. Then she goes back to my numerical example and says that Simran has only one mommy and no daddy. "Where is Simran's Daddy?"

I'm about to merge into I-35 traffic at William Cannon. I mumble that he's not with us anymore. She presses for more information. I trot out my "y'know how trees and flowers die? People die too."

Silence for 5 seconds (that almost a record for Vivian). Then

"Are you going to die Daddy?"

"Yes."

"Am I going to die?"

"Umm - yes - but it's nothing to worry about. It's the most natural thing. Let's come back to this when you are a bit older because it will make more sense then".

Fast-forward 5 days. Yesterday, we are at the Shah's. I recount the first part of this story to a dinner table crowd of 10. Vivian picks up before I reach the end. She cheerfully announces:

"Daddy is going to die."

Then she spreads her hands out and opens her palms to include everyone at the table:

"And all the Shah's are going to die".

I whisper in her ear "Honey - dying is like poop - it's normal but we don't talk about it a lot". She nods and changes the subject.

"Purple is my favorite color".

Another Idea

Someone I know recounted the following conversation he or she had with his or her son or daughter last night (OK - I'm being vague to hide their identity).

The child, of elementary school age, asked the parent if the first people on earth were grown-ups or babies. A perceptive question, I think. The parent replied that according to the bible, God created two fully grown people, Adam and Eve. Then the parent added (I am not paraphrasing):

"And there is another idea called evolution that's based on fossils and stuff..."

Vivian - when you have questions about the origin of humans, I wonder who will tell you what.

Sugar Breakfast

This morning Mommy left us to our own devices. We hurried over to Upper Crust Bakery. I said "Hey Vivian - what do you want?". My bad. She very precisely replied "A chocolate cup cake with icing and sprinkles". Me "Uh - how about those lovely looking blueberry muffins instead". She "No".

I topped it off with a chocolate milk for her. We sat and chatted and Vivian first licked the icing off and then ate about half of the cup cake before she had had enough sugar. We got back home and Vivian helped me make a spinach tomato Canadian bacon two egg omelette. And she ate a clementine while I enjoyed my breakfast.

You could say that I am eating sugar vicariously through Vivian.