Saturday, December 13, 2008

Rhetorical questions are not meant to be answered...

Yesterday my five year climbed up on the arm of my chair while I was writing, cuddled against my arm, and said, "Mom, who's your favorite kid."

I smiled and said, "I don't have a favorite. I love all of you just the same."

"I know, but who's your favorite."

"I can't pick a favorite. What about you, who's your favorite, mommy or daddy?" I asked her this question to show her how impossible it would be to choose. She was supposed to say, 'I love you both.' 'I don't know' would've worked fine too.

Instead, she looked up to the sky for a moment, pursed her lips together, and then said, "Daddy."

Well, I know who's not my favorite now. :) Apparently using a rhetorical question on a five year old is not a good idea.

14 comments:

  1. When my little brother was younger, I asked him who his favorite sister was (he has four). "I don't have a favorite, that wouldn't be nice."

    "Okay," I said. "If you DID have a favorite, who would it be?"

    "You."

    He he...

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  2. Oh man! I'm pretty sure my kids like Nick better...he's nicer. I'm the "bad cop."

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  3. Kiersten, it sounds like your brother is quite the diplomat. And you know how to work the system. Have you ever read that book, "I Am America and So Can You?" by Stephen Colbert. He says that as parents we should let our kids know that we have a favorite, but not tell them which one it is. "Make them work for your love," he says. It's pretty funny.

    Nat, yes, Jared is the "nice guy," I'm the "meanest mother in the history of mothers" (I have a post I wrote about that title, given me by my seven year old.) I'm okay with it. :)

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  4. Kids are great, aren't they? The cuddling up with you says it all.

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  5. Maybe it's because of your hobbies. What were they again? Being alone and taking naps (well writing now :) LOL!

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  6. Don't you just love those questions? Nice mother/daughter moment here!

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  7. Pam, yes, kids say the funniest things. And I was so happy to have her cuddling with me that I'll overlook her bias for now. :)

    Candi. What? My chosen hobbies aren't kid friendly? It's not my fault that Jared's hobbies are: Playing at the park and eating candy.

    Joanne, kids are curious. I guess they don't understand about politically correct questions quite yet. :)

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  8. Pam, yes, kids say the funniest things. And I was so happy to have her cuddling with me that I'll overlook her bias for now. :)

    Candi. What? My chosen hobbies aren't kid friendly? It's not my fault that Jared's hobbies are: Playing at the park and eating candy.

    Joanne, kids are curious. I guess they don't understand about politically correct questions quite yet. :)

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  9. Oh....that's sad. I'm sure when you told Jared he was dancing around the room! Can't wait till Hunter's old enough to tell me he loves Dad better.

    Weird Christian Slater dream by the way. Even with my Freudian training I can't figure that one out.

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  10. Classic kid moment.

    Also, I love the Colbert quote. Ha! That guy is a riot.

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  11. One time I got my grandmother to admit I'm her favorite grandchild.

    I'm still working on Ingrid, though...

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  12. Emily, yes, Freud himself couldn't figure out my Christian Slater dream. And I think Jared was very pleased about his "favorite" status.

    Renee, I love Colbert. He makes me laugh. My husband has that book on his ipod and I listen to sections every now and again.

    Kristan, nice to see you again.

    Suzanne, I think I'm Ingrid's favorite. At least that's what she told me when we hung out so much after I broke my wrist. :)

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  13. Wow, I didn't think I'd be smiling today.

    Good post...

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