Thursday, January 17, 2008

Why do you have three children?

Bart asks this question a lot these days. I’ll be finishing up the dishes and he’ll look at me with his big, blueberry eyes and ask, very sincerely, “Mom, why do you have three children?”

At first I answered with snark: “Good question. Why DID I have three children?”

Then, I tried some inappropriate humour: “Too much wine and too few condoms.”

Then, I tried to answer like a good, caring mom: “Because we decided that three children was what we needed to make our family perfect.”

Finally, when I had run out of answers, I asked him his thoughts on the matter. Here it is, from the imagination of a four-year-old:

Bart: Lisa, Maggie and me climbed the ladder and were fixing the roof with a hammer, a wrench and a saw. You weren’t there yet, because you had to work. Daddy had to work too. Then, we needed help with the roof, so we took you off the shelf and you climbed the ladder.

Me: So, does that explain why we have three children?

Bart: Yes, because we three liked each other and liked to build the roof.

Me: So, Mommy and Daddy climbed the ladder and picked you to be our three children?

Bart (laughing): Nooo! You didn’t pick us. We picked YOU!

The funny thing is that he has repeated this tale over and over, like it makes all the sense in the world.

18 comments:

Jess said...

This is adorable. And how cute that your kids picked you! Obviously they are aware of what great parents they have.

Christina Schmidt said...

Oh how I love kids!! Their imaginations (insights) are so amazing!

artemisia said...

Oh, it just makes my heart ache that he is so tickled that THEY PICKED YOU.

Awesome.

Banana said...

That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard. So precious.

Saly said...

Darn hormones, this made me cry.

He is too cute for words.

Tess said...

They picked YOU! I love it!

You know, I was just reading a post somewhere where the author asked everyone to comment on what their favorite age was, and EVERYONE who commented before me named an age that AD had ALREADY PASSED! It was SO DEPRESSING! I suspect that I will enjoy some of the older ages. That's why I like stories like these, is my point (?) here.

LoriD said...

tessie - that's weird that everyone had such a young age as their favourite... maybe they all had 2 year olds, so not much frame of reference? I think the ages between 4 and 6 are truly charmed. They are so innocent and imaginative, but still needy and small. There's a lot of magic in those ages, I think.

Family Adventure said...

You remember this when they are teenagers and slamming doors..."hey, you picked US!"

Cute, cute, cute :)

Heidi

Blog said...

I love your inappropriate-humour answer! Classic!

He's ADORABLE!!! Love their imaginations. Hilarious. :)

email said...

Ah, inappropriate humor. I use it ALL THE TIME. For instance, when I was asked by my 7 and 5 year-olds why they could not lick the icing off of the Barbie doll's body (from the cake - you know what I'm talking about), rather than respond because the doll was made in China, I said, "Because I would find that really disturbing."

Mighty Morphin' Mama said...

K, he is pretty flippin' cute! I love that they picked you, but disturbed by the imagery of their little selves on the roof! Where do they get this stuff?!

Sarah said...

I personally believe that they DO pick us. That's why even if I AM preggo (please please God no) I will be okay with it, because it was out of my hands all along, I tell you! The babies find US!

Beck said...

That IS sweet, you know.
And better then the honest truth of how we ended up having three kids. Whooooops!

shay said...

That is beyond precious!

Now why did I have 4???!!!
we haven't fixed any roofs lately lol.

Nowheymama said...

K. is already talking about "our next baby," meaning baby #4. I'm glad she likes having siblings, but let's get number 3 here first!

Anonymous said...

LOL, what a cute story! The fixing the roof detail so so funny - 'cause a wrench is important for roof repairs (not even commenting on the saw...) And taking you "off the shelf" - so sweet! I was going to say "write this down so you will remember it" and then I realized, you DID write it down :P

Chantal said...

Just stumbled on your blog. Kids imaginations rock. And moms too!

Anonymous said...

That is so darling. What a cutie.