Konversations With Kids: Because Your Grandmother Likes Pickles

I was reading where a child has so many thoughts in his or her head and that they will say the darndest things because they don’t know how to deal with them. Just whatever pops into their head, they say it. A part of me wishes I had that luxury, but we all know that if that WERE to happen, all hell would break loose and everyone’s feelings would be hurt. And then everyone would need a therapist. Or not.

Anyway…my 7-year old has become…shall we say…scatter-brained (at best) and I have to admit, I am becoming more and more confused by him daily. For example. this morning. Stephanie was trying to explain to Christopher that back when we were young, telephones had cords and so you couldn’t just walk around wherever you wanted while talking on the phone. Instead, you had to sit next to the phone (until they invented those really LONG cords. And then you could at least move around the room!) and converse with whoever was on the other end. At this point, I entered the room. I asked what they were talking about and Stephanie said, “Phones that had cords from when we were young.”

Me: “That’s right, Christopher. Back when we were young, there were no cell phones. We had to sit and talk. We couldn’t move around.”

Christopher: “Was it fun?”

Now…2 things. First off, I have no idea what sparked this conversation. I wasn’t in the room at the time so I don’t really know what they were talking about so maybe I should have just stayed out of it. Secondly…what does that mean, “Was it fun?”

“Was it fun?”

Was WHAT fun? Talking on a phone? Using a phone that had a cord? Not walking while talking on a phone? Sitting and talking on a phone? I have no idea what he was thinking. And so I just looked at him. And he looked back at me, thinking I had an answer. And, unfortunately, I didn’t know what to say. And lately I find that to be the norm. I try to get involved in a conversation and then something random just pops into the conversation. So from now on, whenever I get asked a question that makes absolutely no sense, I am gonna respond in the same way. So from now on, if he asks me a question like this one, it will go like this…

Me: “Yes Christopher, it was fun.”

Christopher: “Why?”

Me: “Because your grandmother likes pickles.”

The End