Taking responsibility

Today my four year old asked if he could have some cheese.

I said yes and asked if he could get it from the fridge.

And he did.

He then asked if he could have his little knife.

I said yes and asked if he could get it from the kitchen top.

To which he replied.

"Mummy, you've got legs, Why don't you get it?"

Humph! Now where did he get that one from?

Mummy....

"...your music smells" piped up my three year old from the back of the car, in a rather matter of fact manner.

What could he mean?

"Daddy's doesn't smell" he continued.

After scratching my head over his sentiments all evening and feeling slightly offended, I've come to the conclusion he means "stinks".

Yes, STINKS does seem better, not so personal somehow.

And yes, he's right, my taste in music does stink and I'm afraid it always will!

Big words for little boys!

Yesterday afternoon my eldest son ran to tell me very excitedly that his younger brother had barricaded himself in the living room by pushing the sofa against the door.

He was more bothered by the fact that he couldn't get in.

I was most impressed by his use of the word barricaded!

He's only 6.

We could see through the glass panel that his three year old brother was just happily playing with all the toys, looking up at us in "gotcha" kind of way.

I could have pushed the door open, but we both agreed to wait patiently and eat some sweets in full view, on our side of the door.

The lessons in strategy worked...

...until the door opened, the little soldier came out and my eldest ran in to occupy the barricaded territory taking the sweets with him, and was quickly followed by his younger brother in an attempt to join him.

As for me, I saw the opportunity for some peace and quiet, safe in the knowledge that suppertime was just around the corner.

So who is the secret news agent?

I went shopping with my 6 year old today.

All I said was "The next stop is the newsagent".

He suddenly fell about laughing, in almost a rolling on the floor kind of scenerio.

Then he said "That's so funny mummy...who is the newsagent?"

Quite bemused, I pointed down the street and said "It's the shop down there!"

He stopped in his tracks, cut the laughing and replied "So it's not a man who spies on the TV!"

With a picture of a man (or indeed woman), cloaked in a dark cape, watching the news with a magnifying glass and recording equipment, it was my turn to almost roll on the floor laughing. But thinking about it, isn't that how news is often shared, with or without the garb?

In praise of my cooking...

As I came into the living room to ask whether he wanted cheese with his beans on toast, the reply from my eldest was,

"Mummy, shouldn't you stay in the kitchen just in case the smoke alarm goes off!"

I suppose he does have a point. Just in case you missed it, click here!

"Mummy, why don't you have a winky?"

"And if you don't have a winky how do you wee?"

And that's how my day started, with my five year old taking a sudden interest in anatomy!

I know that these questions shouldn't be a surprise and we should be prepared for when they hit! Without preparation, you end up with that flustered sinking feeling, wishing that you weren't the only female in the house. So many things to consider, too much detail will result in him knowing too much for his age and I don't want to be responsible for the chinese whispers in the playground. Too little detail creates other problems and future awkwardness when you have to re-explain.

This is one area where you can't just say "go and ask daddy"! Being the only female in the house and of course the mother, it is my job to explain. However, when you're just getting ready for school, that's not the best time!

Thankfully I was offered a lifeline.

My very interested two year old piped up.

"Mummy no winky but got bottom"

Cue five year old: "Of course...doh...Mummy wees from her bottom".

Sometimes, it's easier for children to answer their own questions and I know I took advantage. I can breathe easy for now, but it's going to come back and get me. Next time, I will be prepared.

From the mouths of babes

Prompted by my 5 year old: "Mummy, why is the baby-sitter called a baby-sitter, when we are actually children?"

Thought Wikipedia might just have the answer to that one, but sadly not. It does have other interesting facts though including the term Baby-Sit first appeared in 1937. Makes you wonder what they called it before 1937.