My Child's Well-trained Mind

Joel has heard us talking about buying presents for people. He has been in Sunday School since he was in utero. He has heard the Christmas story straight out of Luke 2, and even made a brown bag manger with classmates at church.

And the sweetie is only three. So, Christian parents, take heart. Relish the truth your younguns are absorbing through your traditions and teaching moments. Appreciate that they can distinguish commercialism from spiritual insight.

My heart was warmed this morning to know that my preschooler understands the true meaning of Christmas. Here's how I know. From a conversation this morning.

Me: (sorting socks on the bed) Hey, Joel?
Joel; (on the floor playing with poker chips) Hey, what?
Me: What is Christmas all about?
Joel: I dunno, Santa Claus or sumpin.'
Me: No, I mean what do we celebrate? Whose birth? Who was born at Christmas?
Joel: Santa Claus I said!

Jingle Bells and Old Mac Donald

Here's how my darling Joel started singing "Jingle Bells."

Shingle bells, shingle bells
Shingle all de way
Ole Nick Donald had a farm and
Just had to walk in and saaaayyy, "Hey!"


He now gets the words "right" which makes me a wee bit sad.

"Freena Kits" helper

Joel has been helping me with the Katrina Kits, more or less. (I'll let you guess which.) He calls them "Freena Kits." He doesn't like when I buy matchbox cars and then keep them from him.

"Don't send them to Texas in the Freena kits!" he begs as he watches me drop 2 little cars into a ziploc baggie.

Today I was making a checklist of more toiletries I need to buy, since more and more sponsors keep saying, "Hey, I'll take seven!"

So, there I was at the kitchen table making my list. Joel, I thought, was oblivious, playing with his "mans." Every now and then, without realizing it, I'd mumble things off my list.

"I need 9 toothbrushes... 9 toothbrush holders,.. 13 soap dishes..., 4 nail clippers...."

At one point I set my pen down and started fixing lunch. Joel walked right over, picked up the pen, and starting adding to my list. "Um, we need six de-or-or-ints," he said.

"Deodorants? Yes, we do! How'd you know that, Joel? What do you do with deodorant?"

"Put it on your shoulders and nin-nins," he said. (I guess he thinks men use it near their shoulders and women use it near...well, elsewhere!)