Nanny’s been out. Catherine’s working hard. So I’ve had Sal a lot more the last couple of days than I normally do. And we’ve had a decent time. I’m so old that noting down our conversations is my favorite use for Twitter.
Sal: He’s tickling his mommy!
Me: Is that good or bad?
Sal: [thinks for a bit] Funny!?
I was immediately touched, because I often rationalize many of my own actions with the funny excuse.
Then after our epic lunch (short version – he threw up @ Subway, which was across the street, so we walked home, took a bath, did some laundry, finished our sub, walked back across the street, apologized to the staff cause Sal was worried they wouldn’t let him back, tipped them, got in our car…) he saw fortune cookies and said that after he finishes his meal, and if he’s been good, he can have a cookie with words inside of it.
Cookie: Your imagination is a great asset.
Me: Do you have a good imagination?
Sal: I have a giant imagination!
Which leads me to his phase right now. I think the stereotypical difficult stage is when the kid always asks “why?” and I was kind of looking forward to that, since I like making up answers. But my kid has beaten me to the punch. He doesn’t ask “why?” about things.
He asks “What happens if…” and then he goes on to describe some complex situation. Catherine remembers/recreates them better than I do. But I don’t get to make up an answer – well, I do – but it’s not a tenth as interesting/fun as the question. Superheroes are battling and have limited superpowers in these imaginary situations. Rabbits behave strangely and have detailed family trees and we need to know what’s going to happen if…
Sometimes they don’t end with a question, because they’re such long, drawn out scenarios. Which is good by me…he’s answering his own question I guess.
Or the dude is flat out nuts.
Either way, I’m really enjoying it.