Saturday, July 31, 2010

... Right, mommy? ...

When Carbon and I were traveling, the others in our tour group started laughing about how often he would interrupt his stream of monologue to say "right, mommy?". He would be giving a little discourse on something - his understanding of ancient Roman history, say - and as he threw out his facts he would look to me to confirm that he was right "right, mommy?", and after my nod he would continue on.

Well, apparently he expects me to know almost everything. I didn't realize just how much of an authority he thought I was until the other night when we were reading Pyle' King Arthur for a bedtime story. Uther Pendragon is described as "that most puissant king", and Carbon stopped me to ask what puissant means.

"I don't know", I answered.

"You're lying!" was his response that took me completely by surprise. After all - why would I lie about knowing a word meaning?

"You have to know! You're like the human dictionary - no! like the human computer google."

How flattering, that my son thinks I'm like Google. We got out the big dictionary (the one all covered in dust), and looked up that word. For the record, it means powerful or strong.

I'm afraid it can only be downhill from here. He's going to gradually start to think that I know nothing and am a complete idiot, and that will peak in the teen years no doubt. I'll have to enjoy this while I've got it.

1 comment:

  1. That's so sweet! My kids still expect me to know everything, including "How much longer is this going to take?" while waiting in line at the store. How could I possibly know that?

    I'll bet the people in your traveling group were very impressed with Carbon--how many kids his age discuss Roman history?

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