Phone calls from a 5 year old

The majority of the people in our family have birthdays in the last quarter of the year. Consequently, between birthdays and Christmas we all tend to end up with a lot of cold weather things. This is sometimes a problem when G asks for something like a super soaker or roller skates since there isn't really a holiday to give them to him when the weather is more appropriate. I talked to my mom about this problem and she suggested that maybe I could allow G to work off some purchases so that he "earned" them rather than just being given a present because he wanted it. I thought this was a great solution and got to work making a list of chores that G could use to "earn" something that he wanted.

After talking to hubs about it and writing my list, I called G in to talk to me. I explained the idea to him and specifically suggested the super soaker, slip-and-slide, or roller skates he had previously asked me for. G got really excited at the idea.

About ten minutes later I found G walking around with a note pad.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Oh I'm just writing a list of chores that I can do to earn my stuff."
(Ummmm....no. I get to decide the chores. I do not need the t.v. watched for 10 hours straight, or E yelled at all day, thank you very much.)

As I explained that I already had a list of chores, I was trying to enter some items into my grocery list on my Iphone. Simultaneously, E and H were both attacking me, trying to steal it to play a game. I looked over at G and could see that he was barely restraining himself from doing the same. Then his face lit up.

"I know what I want!" he said.

"What?" I asked.

"I want a PHONE." he declared, proudly.

(Shocked silence, then laughter from me.)
"Absolutely not." I laughed. "There is no way you are getting a phone."

G, now indignant whines, "Why not?"

"Who are you going to call?" I asked.

"Everyone I know." he answers sassily.

I tried to get out of him what he liked about a phone. "Is it that you like playing games?" I said.

"No, I really like calling people and talking to them." he explained. (yeah right)

"No. I'm sorry, I draw the line at buying a cell phone for a five year old. I didn't get my first phone until I was in college and bought it myself. No way."

I couldn't stop laughing. G kept giving me dirty looks.

I can't believe I just had this conversation with a 5 year old! I told hubs and we just kept laughing and shaking our heads. It is amazing to me how much technology is so commonplace to our children. They have grown up with incredible things like Ipods and Iphones and Ipads, laptops and flat screen t.v.'s, gaming systems that respond to movement and pretend musical instruments that simulate playing. It really is a completely different world, our kids are growing up in a sci fi movie where they think it is normal for everyone to have a touch screen phone!

Well until this cruel mother changes her mind, he is welcome to call "everyone he knows" from our trusty old fashioned land line.

I just hope he doesn't know anyone in China...

Cool Character

As an update to a few posts back, E has started saying, "I love you" on his own. Except he says, "I love you too," like you've already said it and he is reciprocating. 

Would you expect anything more from such a cool character?

Just because...

Super Bowl

Following a conversation about Super Bowl Sunday...

G: Why are we going to Grandma's house to play games and eat food?
Me: We're going to watch a football game. It's called the Super Bowl. Does that sound fun?
G: Not really. I don't think football is very interesting.
Me: You don't have to watch it, you can eat food and play instead. Different people like different things and that's ok.
G: Yeah. Like I like soccer, and superheroes, and dragons.


Some excellent suggestions for next year's Super Bowl, I think I might watch that one.