We are on our thirty minute commute to church and very often we get deeply profound questions from our kids. As we approached a light, the Linebacker Starter Kit (4 years old) stated with confidence, "When we see a red light we have to stop."
"That's true," I said.
After a few moments pause, he asked, "What do you do when there is a yellow light?" All the eyes in the car turned towards Dad.
Now at this moment, I have a few options. I can give the facts, pure and simple. Or I can seize the moment and build in a little comedy.
I chose option two.
"Why son, if it just turned yellow you show caution, possibly cruise right through the intersection....maybe even speed up a little......and you are supposed to gobble like a turkey as loud as you possibly can....." Mom muffled a snicker.
"Really? Mom never does that," said one of the children.
"Ah, yes, but Mom doesn't drive as much as Dad does."
This explanation was received with broad acceptance in the back of the car.
At this point, I am praying for a yellow light before we get to church. Everyone went back to staring out the window, reading, etc.
A few minutes later, as we approached an intersection, BINGO!, a yellow light. So as we moved through the intersection I saw Mom brace herself, and I let out the most blood curling turkey imitation ever uttered.
All six bodies in the back jumped about two feet in the air and I am sure that chickens all across the county turned towards this fowl war cry.
There were a few seconds of quiet as the gobble echoed throughout the car and one of the children whispered, "Driving is really different with Dad, isn't it?"
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It reminded me of this Father-Son exchange from the greatest comic strip ever, Calvin & Hobbes:
Q. How do bank machines work?
A. Well, let's say you want 25 dollars. You punch in the amount and behind the machine there's a guy with a printing press who makes the money and sticks it out this slot.
Q. Sort of like the guy who lives up in our garage and opens the door?
A. Exactly.
2 comments:
I drive the van. Professor thinks it's like driving a boat...so I drive more. We had the same conversation - with the professor doing the answering.
He said, "We hold on and yell "BONSAI!!!!"
Luckily we didn't have any yellow lights.
Though, there's this one turn to get to the church we attend now. And it's a sharp turn. I can hear the newly minted 3 year old yelling as we approach the turn, "Hold on GUYS!"
Everyone's a driving critic.
--- I immediately thought of calvin and his dad when I read the opening line of you post. ;-)
Calvin & Hobbes was the best. One of my favorite father/son was when the dad explained B&W photos. classic.
Cute, very cute. Definitely good to see the lighter and funny side to fatherhood. Too many times we try to be too stuffy for our own good. Way to choose option 2.
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