The Year of Living Dangerously

My son was talking to his mum about people’s behaviour and the different characters we see and meet in life. They got onto the subject of star signs and she began to describe the Zodiac and what the different characters of each sign meant and how people sometimes took on these characteristics.

My boy was fascinated by this and listened intently as she went on to describe the Chinese Zodiac and how animals were used to show different elements of a person as well as the cultural and social attitudes towards these beliefs. She expanded this to include how businesses in Asia would take advice on strategies to deal with the transition from year of the snake to the year of the dragon etc.

He sat and listened intently. It seemed to me amazing that a seven year old could grasp these concepts and as he mused over these weighty issues I was feeling immensely proud of his mature considered reflections.

She paused for a time and asked “So what Chinese Zodiac year do you think mummy was born in?”

After thinking intently for a few minutes he looked up with a wise and learned expression and said “You must have been born in the year of the Hippo”.

My only wish is that I could have had a camera ready to capture the expression on her face.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybrooks/2199355153/