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Out of the Mouths of Rugrats... It was a pretty usual morning. We were sitting at the breakfast table yesterday morning, having toast and milk while discussing plans for the day. The night before, kessia had let her stay up and watch an edited version of "And the Band Played On", an accounting of the AIDS pandemic. Thought she is only five, kessia thought it would be valuable for her to see it while she is still young enough to take everything mommy says at face value. Basic kid brainwashing 101. So, there we were, sitting at the table when she looks at kessia and says: "You shouldn't tell Daddy about that movie last night. What if Daddy doesn't think it was 'propriate? He might beat you." Choking down a mouthful of coffee, kessia looked into her earnest little face and calmly asked "Honey, why do you think Dad would beat me? You know he wouldn't hurt me, dolly girl." A mental grin, as one relies on the power of semantics. She gives kessia that "don't be an idiot mom" look that kids are so good at and replies, "Well, you're a slave aren't you. I know that slaves get beated if they do something wrong." Eyes to the ceiling, kessia wonders what on earth she has done to deserve such a precocious and astute child. One spends a moment also wondering why it is she always get the privileged of fielding these questions and hopes that the boy (when he is old enough) goes to his Dad for these awkward little moments. "It is beaten not beated honey, and what makes you think that?" Oh, nice one kessia. A question for a question. Her jaw sets, she knows that question ploy and kessia sees it isn't going to work. Drat. "Well, you are aren't you? Dad could beat you if he got mad." "Ok kiddo, first thing: What your Dad and I do on our own time is private. It isn't your business. Period. All you really need to know is that he is your Dad and I am your mom and we are happy with the way we do things. Got it?" She nods. "Next thing, other than about presents, we don't keep secrets in this house. Ever. Keeping a secret is the same as a lie and we just don't do that, it is disrespectful. As far as the beating thing, let me ask you this: Does spanking you work? I mean does it fix your behavior or just irk you?" She stops to think. "It irks me." "And you and I are an awful lot alike, yes?" She nods. "Is your Dad stupid, do you think he knows all of this?" (Gotta love the Socratic method) "Noooo." "So, what do YOU think?" "I think he probably makes you wash windows." One wishes all well, |
