Autumn

Autumn

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

It's The Little Things

When I drive her to school she reads to me in her little lilting voice. This morning it was Strawberry Shortcake. My mind was on the marshlands of the river; I watch for hawks, take in the cloud formations, dream of a day off.

"Papa."

"What, Honey."

"You're cheating."

I refocus on my task and glance over at her. I smile, kinda confused, and, "What do you mean, Sweetheart, I don't cheat."

"You are now 'cause you're at four five."

Guess I put on a face not unlike a dog with a face full of quills. Little Bit laughed.

She reads to me every morning from her stash of library books. Yesterday it was Barbie, tomorrow, well, who knows. Either way I listen and marvel at how quickly she has learned. She has a beautiful voice and tends to finish each word on a high note; distinctive and pretty. Objective, aren't I.

I asked her what she meant by four five. Her, "Papa, you're cheating 'cause the sign says four zero."

Oh.

I was over, but not by much. "Honey, Papa isn't cheating. I just fudge a little."

She puts her book away, zips her backpack, and turns from me and takes in the scenery. This is a sure sign she's angry with me.

I brake for a traffic light. "Little Bit."

Silence.

Again, "Little Bit."

"Papa, you cheat and you always tell me not to cheat and Nana tells me not to cheat," Long breath, "And isn't cheating like telling a lie?"

 "Yes, Little Bit, when you cheat it is like telling a lie. But, Papa isn't cheating. I'm just pacing the traffic."

She doesn't buy it. She turns in her seat and gives me her 'look.' Then, "Papa, it's wrong. My teacher told us we should always obey the laws. The sign says four zero and you go way fast." (verbatim)

She has me. I'm chastised. Picture me applying my brakes....

A few minutes later over breakfast she's smiling and happy while kicking butt on a wall mounted video game at 'Ole MacDonald's. Her smile lights my life.

She later forgave me for doing forty five. Tomorrow I shall be very careful.



Stephen

8 comments:

  1. oh boy...you better button up and get ready for a very serious ride! she is all over you Stephen...just wait until she is 12 or 13!

    i am glad that she called you out. we do tend to teach children to obey the laws and then go around breaking them, just a little, doing no more than anyone else, but still breaking them. well-raised children tend to have a very strong sense of justice and equality. i am so glad that hers is already so developed.

    you got your hands full my friend and all i can say is ---- teeheeheeheee!

    oh Stephen you are so in for a ride and i for one will enjoy all of it. thanks for always sharing these little tidbits about you and Little Bit...it is so enlightening, inspiring and gosh darn - just funny!

    tell her that her fan club can`t wait for the next installment. and Papa - you betta start payin moe attention!

    thanks Stephen - it`s the end of a long but very fruitful day. i am reading my fave blogs to unwind. thanks for giving me some giggles and stuff to think about for the future when we have children.

    oh and the pics are to die for!

    your friend,
    stassja

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  2. HA! Stephen, she's got your number, bud!

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  3. A woman telling a man how to drive? You don't say! ; ) We start young.

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  4. I suppose there are worse things to befall a child nowadays than having her moral compass too firmly set.

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  5. Haha I hope she obeys these laws when she is driving, because there are police officers like the one I encountered today that will give you a ticket for just about anything. God Bless.

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  6. I bet if you think back, Stephen, there were moments like these with your own child. Everything is simply right and wrong to a child. They don't learn about the 'gray areas' until much later. As someone else mentioned, she is going to be a force to be reckoned with in a few years. LOL

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  7. Stassja, thank you for the kind comments. You're too nice...

    Matt, she's had my number since birth. Thanks.

    A Kitchen Witch, yes you girls do...thanks. And, nice to see 'ya.

    Odyesseus, very true. Her Nana is the one responsible for such a high moral setting.

    Blueeyedbaby, thank you, Sweet Lady. I hope she never gets behind the wheel of a car...hope, hope.

    HossBoss, true. It's hard for me to think that far back, but if I strain my brain, her father wasn't as bad.

    Duke, done.

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