Conversations with Sammy...

Tonight Sammy had the following conversation with Paul:

SAMMY:  Daddy, come close I want to whisper a secret in your ear.

PAUL:  OK.  (leans close)

SAMMY:  (whispering in ear) I want some cold chocolate milk.

Conversations with Sammy

Occasionally we post conversations with Sammy. We try to be as accurate as possible to what he said. What follows really happened...today.

Sammy found a replacement button which came with some new clothing Michele had purchased. He approached his father asking him to take the button out of the plastic bag so he could play with it.

PAUL: I'm not so sure I should take this out of the bag.
SAMMY: I want it.
PAUL: Uh, well, go bring it to your mother.
(Sammy exits with the button in the plastic bag...then returns with the button sans the bag)
SAMMY: See Daddy?
PAUL: Huh.
SAMMY: Daddy says no. Mommy says yes.
(Sammy smiles at Paul then walks away and starts playing with the button)

This really happened...today. Sammy just turned three. God help us.

Why?

Sammy has really embraced the "Why" question. No matter what you answer his usual rejoinder after that is, "Why." It is a literal assault of "Why's." Unfortunately, Paul quickly finds himself at the limits of his knowledge, usually in 5 questions or less.

PAUL:  Sammy, don't touch that pan!

SAMMY:  Why?

PAUL:  Because it is hot and it will burn you.

SAMMY:  Why?
PAUL:  Why is it hot?

SAMMY:  Yes.

PAUL:  Um, well, the stove made it hot.

SAMMY:  Why?

PAUL:  Uh, I guess the heat transfer from contact on the stovetop excited molecules or something which made it hot.

SAMMY:  Why?

PAUL:  Uh...

Conversations with Sammy about families...

Sammy's Aunt Annie wrote this guest blog entry...

Before my parents returned to Texas, after two months in Minnesota since Mom's back surgery at the Mayo Clinic, we all sat around my brother's dining room table and had a conversation with Sammy...twice.

Conversation #1 (Prompted by Sammy's comment that I was Diane's "friend.")

Aunt Annie: Where's Daddy's mom?
Sammy : Right there. (as he pointed his finger to Grandma)
Aunt Annie: Where's my mom?
Sammy: Home. (laughter all around the table)
Aunt Annie: Where's Diane's mom?
Sammy: Home. (laughter again.)
Aunt Annie: Grandma is my mom.
Sammy: No, she's Daddy's mom.
Aunt Annie: Grandma is Diane's Mom, too.
Sammy: NO! She's Daddy's mom!

Aunt Diane enters the conversation.

Diane (while holding up 4 fingers): Grandma had 4 babies. Baby Annie (she points at me), Baby Diane (pointing to herself), Baby David and Baby Paul (she points to Sammy's daddy). So, she is Annie's mom, my mom, David's mom and Daddy's mom.
Sammy: No. Grandma is Daddy's mom.

Grandma, with her hand on Aunt Diane's shoulder, speaks...

Grandma: Diane is my daughter.
Diane: Grandma is my mom, Sammy!
Sammy: No, Grandma is Daddy's mom.
Grandma: Daddy is my son and Diane is my daughter.
Sammy: No. Daddy's my son and Diane's my daughter.
Grandma (with a laugh) : Aunt Diane is my daughter.
Sammy (about to cry and with his bottom lip sticking out like a bird perch): NO! SHE'S MY DAUGHTER! (Imagine...all adults in the room, trying to keep from roaring with laughter.)

So, ended lesson 101 on moms, dads and children.

Conversation #2 (one week later)

Aunt Annie: Where's Daddy's mom?
Sammy: Right there. (finger pointing at Grandma)
Aunt Annie: Where's my mom?
Sammy: Your mom is at home. ("at home" was said with emphasis!)
Aunt Annie: Where's Diane's mom?
Sammy: Diane's mom is at home. (strong emphasis again on the same phrase)
Aunt Annie (pointing at Grandma): My mom is right there.
Sammy: No, that's Daddy's mom.
Aunt Annie: And, right next to my mom is my dad.
Sammy: No, that's Daddy's dad.

Sammy wasn't buying any of it. Grandma and Grandpa belonged to Daddy, only Daddy, and that was that. They could only have one kid and that was Daddy.

We decided to wait until he believes us about moms and dads before we teach him about brothers and sisters.

A man with a plan...

Back in 2003 we had a local landscape architect draw up some plans for our small front yard. A year later we actually implemented it using a local nursery. The landscape architect is a bit of a character. He gave us the plan but never wrote down the plant types. (He told us we would receive them by mail, but we never did...perhaps because we didn't go with his friend's nursery). In the end, we chose a local nursery and the guy took his best shot at the plant types.

The landscape architect made a big deal when he presented the plans of giving all the plant names in their Latin terms (perhaps to impress us). When he finished, he paused...presumably it was his hint we were supposed to hoist him on our shoulders and carry him around our living room chanting his name. We actually liked his plan, though Paul couldn't help but needle him just a little bit. What follows is pretty much part of that conversation...

ARCHITECT: ...arborvitae , tilia cordata, quomodo invidiosulus nomine grinchus Christi natale abrogaverit, ex nihilo, reductio ad absurdum...

(Long pause as he waits for praise)

ARCHITECT: Well, what do you think?
PAUL: Well, it seems fine and all...but...
ARCHITECT: Fine? Is something wrong?
PAUL: Well, it is missing something...
ARCHITECT: What?
PAUL: Well, it's missing something right out in the front by the street.
ARCHITECT: What?!?!
PAUL: One of those little jockey statues holding a lantern.

(At this moment the architect tries to swallow but can't. His face gets red. He stops breathing)

MICHELE: Stop that Paul! (to architect) He's just kidding!

(architect starts to breath again)

The original plan with plant types written in by local nursery guy...
...rain spots were acquired when local nursery guy left plan out in rain...

Conversations with Sammy...

Sammy's Grandpa & Grandpa R. sent us some half-moon cookies for Easter (thanks!). While Michele was working tonight, Paul took out a cookie and shared it with Sammy. The following actually happened:

SAMMY: Daddy! Look! Look Daddy!
PAUL: Huh? What Sammy?

(Sammy points to Paul's shirt where there are now several small chocolate fingerprints. Sammy's face is covered in chocolate.)

PAUL: Uh, yeah Sammy I see it.
SAMMY: Look Daddy, Look!
PAUL: Thanks for pointing it out.
SAMMY: OK.

A Case of Misplaced Identity

This past Christmas Eve, Paul went out with his sisters Anne & Diane to Hy-Vee to pick up some items for dinner. In all the rush, Paul lost his wallet (containing his driver's license, credit card, bank card, a key to the house, etc.). We searched all over with no success. Calls to Hy-Vee found no wallets turned into lost and found. Of course, couple of day later Michele found his wallet -- tucked under a towel in the clothes hamper. So all is well...though Paul had already gotten new cards issued.

The following is a real conversation between Michele and Paul:

Michele: Paul, I found your wallet.
Paul: Where was it?
Michele: In the clothes hamper under a towel.
<paul hits head on wall>
Michele: Don't worry, these things happen.
Paul: Oh, it's not that.
Michele: Then what is wrong?
Paul: Well, I was all worried someone had stolen my identity.
Michele: And the good news no one did...so why so glum?
Paul: Well, now I feel kind of rejected, like no one would want to steal my identity.

This is not Paul's license...

Conversations with Sammy...

Another real conversation with Sammy....

SAMMY: Eat?
MICHELE: Sure. What would you like to eat?
SAMMY: Food!

Morning Conversation with Sammy

This morning Paul went in to wake up Sammy and get him dressed for daycare. Sammy was not too keen on waking up. The following conversation occurred:

PAUL: Time to get up Sammy.
SAMMY: I don't want it!
PAUL: Don't you want to get something to eat?
SAMMY: No!
PAUL: Don't you want to go to school (daycare)?
SAMMY: No!
PAUL: Is Pluto a planet?
SAMMY: No!
PAUL: Is Daddy ever wrong?
SAMMY: No!
PAUL: Should Mommy ever not listen to Daddy?
SAMMY: No!
(MICHELE gives PAUL a funny look from across the hallway)