[jebba]

<p>As I have mentioned before, I seem to have all of my deepest conversations with Miss Sunshine while we are in the car.  A couple of days ago, she told me that she was thinking about it, and although she may change her mind, she has decided to stay at home after she's a grown up until her little brother is also a grown up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Easy (the little brother) started saying that he is going to be grown up first.  I informed him that because Miss S is older, she'll be a grown up first.  Then I joked, "But don't worry, Ezra, she'll be an old lady before you are an old man."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Miss S was quiet a moment and said, "Ezra's going to be the last one to get old, right?"  I said yes, and she said, "So he's going to be the last one to die."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad5.gif" style="width:17px;height:16px;" title=""></p>

 

[Xavier Dan Q]

<p>Wow. Deep stuff indeed.</p>

 

[Grizzly]

<p>And how did you handle that Jebba?</p>

 

[jebba]

<p>I said, "Maybe, but we never really know."  And said, "Yeah, I guess we don't really know when we're going to die."  Then I told her by then they would both have children and grandchildren and maybe greatgrandchildren, and the family might be very big.  And then the conversation veered in a different direction.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sometime I'll relate what she told me about her own personal theology.</p>

 

[Grizzly]

<p>Please do.</p>

 

[jebba]

<p>So we're in the car, and because we live in the South, Miss Sunshine (who was 5 at the time) gets told alot of things from her schoolmates about religious topics.  She says,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Did you know that God is the boss of the world?"</p>
<p>Me: I've heard that, yes.</p>
<p>S: And he can do whatever he wants.</p>
<p>Me: I've heard that. too.</p>
<p>S: And he really wants everybody to make good choices.</p>
<p>Me: Sure</p>
<p>S: So if he can do whatever he wants, why doesn't he just make people do right choices?</p>
<p>Me: Honey, I think people have been wondering that for a long time.</p>
<p>--long pause--</p>
<p>S: I think it's because he wants people to <em>want</em> to make right choices.</p>
<p>Me: That sounds like that's probably right.</p>
<p>S: I just don't really know what the truth is about god.</p>
<p>Me: Honey, I don't think anybody does.  I think most people just guess.</p>
<p>S: Well, I think that whatever you think about god is probably right, because that's why you thought it.</p>
<p>Me: That sounds like a pretty reasonable definition of faith.</p>
<p>S: And you know what else?  When people die, they go up to heaven where god lives.</p>
<p>Me: Really?  And what do they do in heaven?</p>
<p>S: Mo-om!  The don't do anything!  They're dead!</p>

 

[Grizzly]

<p><img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/hello2.gif" style="width:25px;height:27px;" title=""></p>
<p> </p>
<p>There's some sense in that kid.</p>

 

[VP of Tea]

<p>She has given more thought to god at age 5 than I have at age 41.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not sure what that says about me, but it says that she is a thinker!</p>

 

[markalan]

<p>I hate to hijack this thread slightly, but, as a parent now going through a very traumatic period in a child's life I'm putting my .02 in. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's the little things in your child's life like this that you need to always hold close to you and remember.  It will give you a great incite into the type of adult they will become.  It's great that you have these deep conversations, no matter where they take place.  It's good that you are not just listening to what Miss Sunshine is saying, but, you are really hearing what she is saying.  That's a big difference.  Continue to have these talks as they get older, and again hear what they are saying. You'll learn a lot.  Don't sweat the small stuff, in the scheme of things it's not worth it.  Walk that fine line between being a Parent and Friend, just enough that they know they can come to you with any problem.  You might get pissed, but, you'll unconditionally be there.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are speedbumps in life and then there are SPEEDBUMPS - It's these SPEEDBUMPS that put's life into perspective</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mark</p>
<p><br>
 </p>