We made a quick trip to San Antonio and
managed to get some updates on the life and times of a six-year-old and a
three-soon-to-be-four year old. First,
in the area of language development …
We found out that Caleb has heard a new
word and is in the process of incorporating it into his everyday vocabulary:
boring. That means he inserts it into
the conversation every chance he gets to hear how it sounds coming off his tongue. Best example so far: “It’s boring for grandparents to only stay
two nights. They have to stay three
nights.” I agree with the sentiment. So does Zak,apparently. He invited us to stay for a whole week.
Another key tool one must become adept at
controlling is the use of linguistic humor.
The latest family game on the San Antonio front involves those
time-honored tools of the twinkle-tongued: riddles. Just two examples here. Zakary is quite realistic in his development
of the art form. As we returned from a
baseball practice, he offered: “What is round and metal and surrounded by
black?” Wanting to appear as the
all-knowing and ultimately wise patriarch, I offered a reply: “The frightening
metallic eye of an invading alien machine monster.” Not quite correct. Well, not even close. Josh (Mr. Dad can do anything) did get it
right, though. A hubcap. Way too simple for me. Caleb’s offering stumped us all, though: “What
if there were two moons and neither one was a circle?” I still don’t know the answer to that
one. He left us hanging to ponder he
possibilities.
Animal husbandry came up when Caleb and I were
having a discussion. We started by
talking about the menagerie now residing at the home of his cousin Cailyn – two
dogs, a guinea pig, a ferret. He didn’t
know what a ferret was, so I told him it was a long skinny rat. That he could picture. He also knew what an otter was when I indicated
my favorite animal. Then I asked what
his favorite animal was. What animal
would he most like to have as a pet? The
answer was … interesting. He immediately
came up with four creatures: dolphins, bears, aminos, and rats. I began my response before I completely
processed the what he had said: “I like
dolphins, too. They are … wait. What’s an amino? I’ve never seen one of those.” Zak heard the discussion and between the two
of them I was able to put together these characteristics: “It goes ‘aak’ once a
week.” OK. I think I can handle that as long as I know
it’s coming. “It flaps his wings two
times a week.” Wings. I got that.
Wonder if it flies or just flaps?
“It eats people’s bottoms.” Well,
I did mention they were two boys, didn’t I?
“We live far away from them but they live near you.” Now that was frightening. I have to live my life worrying about when the
next amino will swoop down and flap his wings at me, crying “Aak.”
I’ll share other insights in the areas of
engineering, recreation, and culinary arts on another occasion. Everyone is waking up now. I have to get ready to take notes.
Psalms 37:34 says, “Wait for the Lord and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you
will see it.”
Father, thank you for the chance to learn
new things. Amen.
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