Gratitude

"Thank you for making lunch, Nene."

"No, you're supposed to say, 'Thank you, Little Chef!'"

"Oh, well THANK YOU FOR MAKING LUNCH, LITTLE CHEF."

"You're welcome, little customer!"

Learning the Hard Lessons

"I don't want Papa Nate to die. I want him to live to 100. He's almost 100. Why can't he die when he's 100?"


"You're right, Nene. Papa Nate was 82 and that's very close to 100, but we don't get to choose when we die. Do you know what we can do, though? We can choose the way that we live. And that's the most important thing you can do."

We miss you, Papa Nate (17 February, 1930 - 26 March, 2012).

Instruction 20: Say The Important Things When You Get The Chance

Never leave unsaid something that must be said. You don't know if you'll ever get another chance.

Instruction 19: Find Knowledge In Books

This morning, Nene came in talking about the planets. When my knowledge began to falter, she ran out excitedly to find the book that had the information I couldn't remember.

Books are a great way to find out about our world. Just don't forget that you need to check the publication dates in case our understanding of the universe has changed since that time!

Instruction 18: Graciously Accept Every Gift

There will always come a time when you receive a gift you don't like or want. Always remember that it is more important that you were the focus of someone's thoughts and that they thought highly enough of you to give you a gift, than what the gift actually is. This goes double for handmade gifts.

Instruction 17: Be Kind

Always.

Instruction 16: Never Resort to Violence

It doesn't matter what is said or done, who said or did it, or who started it. It only matters how you deal with it after the fact. Fighting doesn't solve anything.

Fisticuffs

I was called in to talk to Nene's teacher, Ms. R, today when I picked her up from school. Apparently, there was an "incident." The story goes as follows:

Nene and a classmate of similar age were engaging in some playtime activities in the art room, sometime during the first hour of school. The classmate was building a structure of blocks. Nene decided to help, so she placed a block on top. The classmate did not appreciate her artistic input on his project, so the block was removed in the usual way that a 5-year-old discards such things and ideas. Nene tackled him. Around the waist. And rolled around on the floor with him. And bit his arm. Thankfully, no one was hurt by the time that intervention was in progress. In fact, neither child even let out a whimper through the entire event. Ms. R asked both children what happened and both reported exactly the same story, which is a thing of wonder all on its own, but then Nene was asked why she did it. And her reply?

"I just had to take him down."

EXTERMINAAAATE

Me: You like Doctor Who?
The Boy: Mmhmm!
Me: And the TARDIS?
The Boy: Mmhmm!
Me: You wanna see a Dalek?
The Boy: Yeah.
Me: What do Daleks say?
The Boy: Emembate!

Knowing Where You Belong

"Are you my boy?"
"No."
"No? You're not Mama's boy?"
"No."
"Are you Daddy's boy?"
"No. I'm Daddy's boy, and Mama's boy, and Nene's boy."