Thing about having kids is, there’s always someone around who’s totally got your back.
It’s all about having someone who loves you, no matter what, and thinks you’re brilliant – even when you’re not.
Take this conversation, between me and Flea, last night on the way home from school.
Flea: Mummy, can I ask a difficult question?
Me: Sure, go on.
Flea: Well, I was wondering, if you wanted to get another baby because I’d really like a brother or sister.
Now, a baby isn’t on my immediate to-do list, for all sorts of reasons. But how to explain this to my daughter in a sensitive, age appropriate way?
Me: No. Besides how do you GET a baby?
Flea: Well, aren’t there any orphanages nearby?
Me: Seriously? No. If you wanted me to HAVE a baby, I’d have to find a man I liked enough to have a baby with. Did Mummy and Daddy Laid an Egg teach you nothing?
Flea: I know. Babies come from your egg tubes. But I’d quite like to have two fathers.
Me: Well, I’ve no plans to get married again, sorry about that.
Flea: Are you too old?
Me: No. Not technically.
Flea: Is it because nobody will marry you because you’re a bad cook?
Honestly, I don’t even know where to start with THAT one. So many incorrect gender assumptions in one, small sentence. As well as the incorrect assessment of my cooking ability. Honestly! You make one batch of cookies that get mistaken for cat sick and some people never let you forget it. Anyway, given the direction this conversation was headed I opted for my usual technique – distraction, or what I call the, “Look, there’s a squirrel!” school of parenting.
Me: Would you rather have a baby or a puppy?
Flea: A puppy!
Problem solved.
This just made me smile, been there, had that conversation, have 2 cats to prove it!!
Awesome. I don’t think cats are going to work, I’m bringing out the big guns!
I reckon I can switch her back into wanting a sister not a puppy…..
No baby can compete with puppy eyes.
SO when you getting a puppy ..you do know what you said is a binding contract in law …
After christmas 🙂
Haha, we get that one a couple of times a year. At six years old though I can bluff through it a little easier
It gets harder, trust me.
Love the distraction method of parenting. Your post made me chuckle!
Thanks!
Great post! I love the ‘Look there’s a squirrel!’ school of parenting. I often tackle difficult questions with ‘Oooh, do you fancy a Crunchie?’ That seems to work well.
I like your method more. Especially if we share the Crunchie.
Brilliant! Children’s honesty can be as disarming as it is refreshing. And you are clearly a wise Mum: great deflection!
Thanks!
You can’t beat the distraction technique, I love it. Our daughter got a puppy for her 9th birthday because I didn’t want her to have a DS!
Honestly, I’d have gone for the DS.
I’m also a fan of the look there’s a flying elephant school of parenting. In my house questions about future babies are answered with a short sharp no, never, never ever.
Ah, bless, I always get the guilt reflex though – she’s an only child, it’s so sad… then I think about pregnancy and realise no way, no how, not ever…
You know what Sally? I think you’ve got this parenting malarkey down to a tea #heroworship
HURRAH! *proud face*
Ha. Hahahahahahahaha.
Flea is always welcome here; we’ve enough (well, nearly enough) siblings to put most only kids right off after a day or two 🙂
*packs Flea’s Trunki*