It’s morning rush time. Michael is going to summer camp today, and mom is packing his lunch. Daddy is staying clear of the operation, focusing on making coffee instead.
Mommy has included two fruits, a vegetable, a drink, slices of ham, two PB&J sandwich halves cut into dinosaur shapes, and is now puzzling over which crunchy item to add.
She finds a bag of pretzel chips (like pretzels, but flat – it’s all of the good, shiny exterior and very little of the boring, pithy interior) and pulls one out.
Mommy: “Michael, do you like pretzel chips?”
Michael: (head down, concentrating intently on his video game, offers no response)
Mommy: “Hey, Michael – I’m going to put these in your lunch. Do you like them?”
Michael: (still no response)
Mommy inserts a representative pretzel chip between Michael and the game screen, blocking his view: “Yes? No?”
Michael does not respond.
Mommy continues the forward motion of the pretzel chip toward Michael’s mouth. He unconsciously opens his mouth and accepts the chip, his eyes never wavering from the tiny screen.
Mommy: “Well?”
Michael gives no answer.
Daddy has had enough.
Daddy: “Michael! Your mother asked you a question. Please answer.”
Michael gives no answer.
Daddy: “Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.”
Michael, finally: “Yes or no.”
Daddy glares at the back of Michael’s head.
Mommy: “Well, he did say just what you asked him to say.”
And another grey hair just made its debut on daddy’s head.
At least you have hair!!! Count your blessings and your hairs as well! Thus spake mamathustra
(MD) The grey ones are getting harder to count all the time.
He’s practicing for the teenaged years, obviously.
(MD) He has a number of good teachers right in his own home.
I sometimes wonder if kids realise how cheeky they’re being… And whether that’s a good thing or not!