Kid Quotes: Kids Have Amazing Insights

Settle down. I don’t mean obey and I definitely don’t mean let the kids call the shots. I mean listen to what your kids are saying. These kids are wise beyond their years, insightful and crazy funny!

I honor of my oldest set of twins turning 7 today, i have decided to reflect a bit.

I am a Mom of 5 young kids, now ages 7,7,5,5 and 2. I enjoy when I am not in a conversation my kids are having. I get to just listen in.

I am not into eavesdropping and we aren’t talking wiretapping either.

Ask me again in a few years on those two though.

Right now, I love that I gave given my kids their best friends, their siblings. I enjoy listening to their interactions. And granted, I have not been doing this for too many years, but I have already learned quite a few things.

As adults we make things way more complicated than necessary. We are consumed with analyzing situations, people’s responses, the weather, sports, etc. You name it. We make it into something to dissect and then in many cases, worry about. One of my 7 year olds and my oldest Aunt recently decided to pray for each other. The reasons why this deal was made is a story in itself. However, he has been diligent to perform this daily ritual. The other day his prayer made me laugh.

Dear God,

Please bless our Aunt. We don’t want her to die, but she is old.

When she does, please take her to heaven right away.

Amen.

Then he said, “Night, Mom” and ran upstairs to bed.

To a 7 year old, everyone is old. What I loved most about his prayer is he kept it simple and hit the highlights. We want our family around as long as possible. But, when their time is up, we want them with God right away.

I loved his simplicity.

Growing up in Catholic schools, the discussion of miracles was usually in reference to the Bible and the Saints. Sometimes we talked about modern day miracles. My kids sometimes just have miracles on the mind.

My kids are buckled in their car seats 100% of the time. At the time, my 5 year old son could not unbuckle his own cars seat. The 7 year olds could though. I picked up the kids from a neighbor’s house and drove home like 1/2 block. I heard the conversation ensuing in the back…
1^st 7 year old son,"Mom, He got his seat belt undone by himself. It is a miracle."
2^nd 7 year old son, "Like Jesus turning water into wine?"
1^st 7 year old son,"Yes, he couldn't and now he can. It WAS a miracle!"
5 year old son,"Guys, I just didn't buckle it."

A few weeks later, May 5^th to be exact, they recounted the story of the Wedding at Canna. This story is often read at weddings, as the wine ran out, and Jesus, as a guest turned the water into wine.

7 year old son,” We learned about miracles today at school. They ran out of limes and Jesus made more.”
Me, “Limes or wine?”
7 year old son, “ Oh yeah. Wine. I get those confused.”
Me, “Sounds like Jesus showed up at a Cinco de Mayo party!”

Miracles happen every day, even when they don’t.

After watching a family movie, we often ask the kids if they liked it and what they learned. We watched Soul Surfer as a family. It is a movie based on the life of Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer who lost her arm after a shark attack. It is an inspirational story about overcoming adversity, not giving up, and even charity as Bethany was very involved in her church community. There was a resounding YES when asked if they enjoyed the movie. They weren’t scared of the small shark attack part either which was great, and surprising. Then I went thru the list asking each what they learned. The 2 oldest agreed that they learned to never give up. My daughter liked the part where Bethany helped the tsunami victims and said we should help people who need help. My other son said that he learned that if you lose your arm to a shark, it will NOT grow back.

I laughed and then I almost wanted the last son to give me another example of what he learned. Then I stopped myself.

A lesson learned is a lesson learned.

I am a cradle Catholic and so are my children. We go to mass weekly and my children attend parochial schools. This has always been important to me, but I have been surprised at how this influences their everyday thinking.

When my oldest son was in Kindergarten he was pondering to himself (out loud), “When will I be able to read the Jack and Annie books by myself?”

My children refer to the Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osbourne as the Jack and Annie books.

Then a revelation hit him and he ran to me with his answer. He quickly explained that he will be able to read the Jack and Annie books when God thinks he is ready and puts all the words in his head.

I said, “That’s possible. In the meantime, let’s keep practicing." And I smiled.

His twin was reading a book week later, struggling with sounding out a word. The word was ‘against.’ It was at the end of a sentence.

He had it.

He was saying again…again…again saint.

I said, “What?”

He said, “Againsaint”

I realized that growing up Catholic, it is St. This and St. That. My kids think St. is Saint no matter where it is. I explained it was just ‘against’. He laughed.

Apparently, Religion influences learning to read.

I was a science major in college and love that my children enjoy learning about the body. Some of the real names for the body parts are huge, but why not teach them? Kids are sponges and learn so quickly. Even at age 3, we were reviewing the real names for bones and the kids were catching on quickly.

That reminds me of a time when we were heading to my kids’ first swim meet. We had not purchased the team suit as I wasn’t sure they would even be able to swim the whole length in order to compete. They accomplished this goal, so we were on our way. My son still has on his swim shirt. He always wears it because he said it keeps him warm. This is great except no one else on the swim team wears their swim shirt during the race.

On the way to the meet I told the boys, “You don't wear swim shirts at meets. But, you can wear your normal trunks.”

To clarify, my son said, “Ok, so they can see our bellies but not our femurs?”

I said, “Exactly!”

Additionally, the same swim shirt wearing son asked me weeks later, pointing to his knee cap (or patella), “Mom, is this my Nutella?”

Last summer while running around the block my daughter paused and looked at me very concerned.

She said,’ I could barely breathe before. The trees weren't giving me enough oxygen.”

I keep teaching them the big words and laugh when they use them….right or wrong.

Growing up, I don’t recall ever being fearful of the Titanic. Maybe I was a little older when I read about it. One of the Jack and Annie books is about the Titanic and it registered with my 5 year old son.

Out of the blue one day, he said to his older brother, “I do NOT want to go on the Titanic. That thing might sink!”

His brother explained, “You are in luck. It already sank!”

The 5 year old looked at me still concerned.

I gave him my word. No trips on the Titanic.

A few months later my 5 year old stubbed his toe.

He came over asking for an iceberg. I told him he might just want an ice cube.

He then got nervous and said, “Oh yeah. All the Titanics ran into the icebergs. Please don't make me go on the Titanic, Mommy.”

Again, I gave him my word. No trips on the Titanic.

Some kids just don’t let things go.

The list of stories could go on and on….trust me.

But, what I am reminded by listening to my kids’ explanations, stories, interpretations and even fears, is that my kids are awesome!

They keep it simple.

They mix up their stories, words and even the context, keeping my on my toes.

They crack me up.

They keep me grounded.

And, they remind me that while I am listening to them, I better watch what I say.

As I am listening to them, they are listening to ME!

© 2012 Karen Lackey