Selvage:

ON THE EDGE OF LANGUAGE

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Love and Marriage. Preschooler Style.

In the car, on a recent outing, the following words were exchanged with my four-year-old:

HER: Mom, are you and Dad married?

ME: Uh, yes.

HER: Are Miya's parents married?

ME: Yep. Most of the parents you know are married. Someday, maybe you'll get married if you want to.

HER: I want to!

ME (inciting revolution wherever I can): But not until you're older. You can marry a boy or, by that time, hopefully you'll be able to marry a girl in California, if you want to.

HER: I want to! No, no, no, no! I mean I want to marry Thomas. I'm going to be his engine.

ME: (!) Wow, his engine, huh?

HER: No! NO! I mean, I'm going to be his DRIVER.
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11 comments:

  1. TracieSeptember 13, 2009 at 3:55 AM

    Oh, this is good!

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  2. Laurie AlleeSeptember 13, 2009 at 9:31 AM

    Wonderful!

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  3. Susan CSeptember 13, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    Totally adorable! And do you know this Thomas?

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  4. Linda DoveSeptember 13, 2009 at 10:36 AM

    It's Thomas the Tank Engine, Emme's long obsession. Just click on the link to learn more about him. He's blue. And very English.

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2009 at 1:54 PM

    Your daughter says some seriously interesting things. What happens when a poet raises a poet.

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  6. MargaretSeptember 13, 2009 at 3:57 PM

    I like the way this girl thinks!

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  7. wzgirlSeptember 14, 2009 at 6:15 AM

    My niece is crazy for Thomas, too. Cracks me up!

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  8. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2009 at 8:57 PM

    Did Thomas usurp the Little Engine that Could? children say the darndest things

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  9. FDChiefSeptember 15, 2009 at 2:16 PM

    Interestingly, Maxine seems to have rebelled against Thomas, possibly because her big brother SO got there first. She'd marry Dora, since it's legal in California...

    But the relationship between Thomas and his driver is a problematic one. I once had a (small) part in a (very long) conversation with Sheadon, who explained to me that Thomas was the Boss and the Driver had to go where Thomas wanted him to; "like you're the Boss of Mommy."

    That put in train (so to speak) a week where Debra was very visibly the Boss of Me, but I'm not sure the Peeper was convinced.

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  10. FDChiefSeptember 15, 2009 at 2:35 PM

    May I also add my delight in this sudden cloudburst of blog posts? Fun. Thanks.

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  11. Petrea BurchardSeptember 16, 2009 at 5:24 PM

    Ditto what FDChief says. I'm just catching up; I've spent a few pleasant moments reading your last few blog posts and am happy to see you blogging again.

    It sounds like your bright girl is shining. But she might have to compete with my friend Grant for Thomas's affections.

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