Here's the conversation that happened last night in our family room. It was between our youngest son Colin, and Kris, while they were nose to nose, Kris holding Colin in his arms:
C: What's for dinner?
K: Chicken, potatoes and vegetables. I know you don't like any of that, so you can have cereal.
C: I only like chicken with that berry stuff on it. (Hand waving - apparently this is the international sign for "berry stuff" and will clear the air so we'll understand him)
(Blank look by Kris and me)
C: You know, poisonberries. (This is where he looks at us like we're idiots)
K: Boisenberries? You like chicken with boisenberries? Where did you have that?
C: Yeah, we had it for dinner that one time. That's the way I like my chicken. Can we have that tonight?
(Still the blank looks are on our faces)
K: I have no idea what you're talking about.
(Finally the lightbulb flickers...)
Me: Do you mean cranberries and turkey? Like on Thanksgiving?
C: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what I like.
I'm always amazed at how the world looks through the eyes of my kids. Their humor and honesty make me smile daily. This conversation was a great reminder to me that as grown up as our little 6 year-old likes to act, he's still just a little guy. The days wiz by so fast with rehearsals, homework, social lives, birthday parties and church stuff. I have a hard time sometimes remember who is supposed to be where when, who needs poster board for their project, which kid needs a ride somewhere and what time so-and-so is coming by to do something. He and his siblings are growing so very fast and the time that I have any input in their lives is so very small when compared with their whole lives. All I can do is hope and pray I say the right things, love them the right way and hug them enough.
At the end of the day, though, no matter what I do, he still prefers poisonberries with his chicken.
