November 24, 2012  |  9:00am
Indian name
Grandma: "Do you know my Indian name?"
Luke: [age 8] "No."
Grandma: "It is 'Miniwapichi'. Do you know what it means?"
Luke: "Probably 'Crazy Grandma'."
Grandma: "You little rascal. It means 'Dancing Waters' in Lakota."
Luke: "I bet it really means 'Crazy Grandma' but they didn't want to tell you that."
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Filed under: indian name crazy grandma grandmother grandparents dancing waters english dads fathers fathering fatherhood parents parenthood parenting child children childhood kids boys native native american lakota sioux
June 24, 2012  |  8:56am
Talking religion
Luke: [age 7] "I don't like it when Grandma talks to me about the Bible."
Mom: "Oh? Why not?"
Luke: "She never lets /me/ talk! And everything she says is true just because she says it. I can't ask questions. I don't mind talking religion but I don't like that."
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Filed under: faith bible religion christ christian christianity theology kids child children childhood boys dads fathers fathering fatherhood parents parenting parenthood grandma discuss talk
April 1, 2012  |  9:00am
I am good
Beth: [age 3] "I am good. I am a good princess. My magic tells me so. My magic is inside me telling me to be good and nice, so I am. That's all. That's what I am."
Grandma: "Hmm. I think it is God in you that is good, not magic."
Beth: "God and magic are the same thing."
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Filed under: god magic religion faith good nice princess character kids girls child children childhood parents parenting parenthood fathers fathering fatherhood grandma
March 2, 2012  |  9:00am
Samantha and time and flowers
[Scene: Beth, age 3, is talking about an imaginary friend named Samantha]
Beth: "My friend Samantha sent me this card." [holds up colored paper]
Me: "That's very nice of her."
Beth: "I think we should ask Samantha to visit us sometime."
Me: "Sure. Does she live around here?"
Beth: "Oh, she doesn't live here now."
Me: "Where does she live?"
Beth: "She doesn't live here now. She doesn't live in February. She lives in April."
Me: "I don't understand."
Beth: "She doesn't live in February. We have to wait until April to see her. She makes up her own days and months so she always has long weekends and lots of time to play."
Me: "That sounds pretty cool, actually."
Beth: "Yeah, she's pretty cool."
Me: "So, we'll see her in April."
Beth: "Yes."
Me: "Does she live by herself?"
Beth: "Oh no. She has 14 parents! Moms and dads and grandpas and grandmas."
Me: "Wow, that's a lot of people."
Beth: "Yes. She has 20 moms, 2 dads, and 8 grandpas and 8 grandmas."
Me: "All in one house?"
Beth: "Yes. They have a big house."
Me: "Is Samantha going to bring all those people when she visits?"
Beth: "No, they're too busy."
Me: "That's good. I don't think we could fit them all in here. So what should we do when Samantha is here? What does she like?"
Beth: "Samantha likes the color of the sky. So we'll look at the sky a lot."
Me: "Sure, if the weather is nice."
Beth: "Samantha also likes bubbles and flowers."
Me: "Those are all good things."
Beth: "You'd better buy some flowers before she comes."
Me: "Okay. But we can wait until just before she gets here. If we buy them now, they'll die before she arrives."
Beth: "Then you can buy flowers now, for me."
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Filed under: imaginary imagination friends visit time months days april february flowers bubbles sky colors visit grandma grandpa moms dads family house girls kids dads child children childhood parents parenting parenthood fathers