Karma, Fate & Murphy's Law

Having no perspective whatsoever on typical 4 year old topics of conversation, I find Tingu very interested in the metaphysical...for a little kid.

Three Year Old Class Photo

Since the age of 3, he has gone through these periods of rather intensely focused questions on God, dying, the state of the after-life and being born. At first I was mildly amused and surprised then I got a little freaked out as I wondered if he knew or perceived something I didn't and now I've come to hope it is part of his normal inquisitiveness! As neither B nor I consider ourselves religious or for that matter, terribly interested in the after-life, giving appropriate answers can be challenging.....

Some time ago, we were reading a story on tigers and Tings wanted to know if God was in the tiger.  So, I told him yes and that I believe 'God' is in every living thing....
Tingu (amazed): 'So God is in the tiger?!'
Me (apprehensively) : 'Yes'
Tingu: 'Where?'
Me (pointing to Ting's heart): 'He lives in there'.
Tingu (incredulous): 'How did he get in there?'
Me: 'That is the mystery. No one really knows, sweetie.'
Tingu: 'I know! He must have slid in through the tail' (swooshing his hand as he speaks)
Me (laughing, which was annoying Tings): 'That's as good a theory as I've heard'

so I quickly turn the page and come to the penguins. The questions persist:

Tingu: 'How did God get in the penguins?'
Me: 'Your theories are better than mine, what do you think?'
Tingu: ' Oh, I know. He slid into them down the iceberg'
Me: 'Sounds like fun, huh?'
Tingu: 'Yeah, that is what he did, Mom.'

I had spent what seemed like an eternity after bath time making a mess out of explaining how he had been born. Unbeknownest to me, B had told Tingu that we picked him up from a snow drift and that he was a winter baby.

The 'winter baby' wrapped in a blanket from NaniMaashi Koki & laying on a blanket knitted by my mother for me.

This from the man, who in general, suffers from extreme honesty complex :  He gives every living person no matter how big or small, cold, hard truth almost regardless of consequence. Personally, I like the idea of a little magic in the whole living/dying debate. So when I heard of the snow drifts, I went with it but I had also been giving Tingu the lowdown on hospitals and tummies. This resulted in a very bizarre conversation:
   
    'Was I naked in the snow drift?'  
            Yes
     'Wasn't I cold?'
           'Actually you had a special blanket'
     'What color was it?'
          'Red, as that is your favorite'
    'Actually, my favorite is now rainbow.'
         'Oh well, your special blanket was red'
    'Can I see it?'
         'It disintegrated, it was special'
    'Oh...so how did I get from the snow drift to the hospital?
         'Uh, you were in my tummy first'
    'How did I get from the snow drift to your tummy?'
         'Do you want some milk tonight?'
    'Did you or daddy find me in the snow drift?'
         'Both of us'
    'So I was just lying in the snow and when you went for a walk you found me?'
          'Yes'
    'So I went from the snow drift to your tummy to the hospital?'
         'Yes' ( I could tell he was confused about this but I gave a strong Yes to the question!)
     'Did I have my blanket in your tummy?'
          'No, my tummy kept you warm.'
     'Did I have toys in your tummy?'
         'Not that I know of..'
    'What did I do?'
        'You grew toes and body parts and your brian'
    'How big is my brain?'
        'About the size of a grapefruit'
    'Oh, like a Giganotosaurus ?'
        'Exactly. Well, actually, perhaps a bit smaller, but you're still growing'
    'Yeah, I want to be smart like Troodon'
         'I am sure you will be, Sweetie'
    'So was Hunie also found in a snow drift because his birthday is 1 week after  mine'
         Yes, but I'll tell you his story tomorrow. Go pick out a book for bedtime.'
    'Can I pick any book?'
          'Yeah, sure' (distracted relief on ending that mess of a conversation)
     'Yippee!' I want to read my (98 pg) animal encyclopedia (that I have memorized favorites parts so you can't skip around).

Yes, Mr. Happy, is super happy when he gets to pick out an encyclopedic volume of animal facts to read all night.

 That lead to the earlier section of this blog! Seriously, I do feel so lucky to be the mom of a kid like Tings but there is really no downtime. You have to be 100%. There. With Him. because when you are not, he knows. After work, I was singing a raucous version of Yankee Doddle Dandy to Hunie at dinner and having a grand 'ol time of it.

Tingu: Excuse me, Mommy, was Yankee Doddle a man or boy?
Me: I suppose he was a man
Tingu: So why was he riding a pony?

At one point in my life, I wanted to get a doctorate in theology...I think after raising the Tings it will be a piece of cake.

Releasing a ladybug into the 'wild'.

    In other news, Hunie packs himself off to the beach.....

This kid has stolen all our hearts with his crazy little antics. Stay tuned for the Hun-dawg concert to be posted next blog!