My wife is a third generation medical professional. She’s a Registered Nurse on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to be exact. When you couple this with the fact that we speak TO our children rather than speaking down at them (do you have an owie?! Let me see that cutsy wutsy?) it creates some interesting conversation.
Our three year old will occasionally employ the “my stomach hurts” stalling technique when going to bed. One such evening she expressed this concern and my wife offered her half of a children’s TUMS. The girl wondered why she couldn’t have the whole thing to which my wife replied, “You don’t need that much magnesium.” This seemed to make perfect sense to the girl as she replied with, “ok Mommy” and off to bed she went.
I imagine many kids have Dr. Seuss or Clifford books occupying the back seat of the car. We have a medical journal or two.
Recently the girl asked her mother what a picture in the journal was. Her mother replied, “That’s part of the brain.”
“Not the whole brain?” the girl asked.
“No. If the brain were cut in half that is what it would look like.” Mom replied. They then went on to discuss the color of the brain and the how it controls action, memory, etc. Amazingly the girl seemed to get it.
It’s hard for me to remember the girl as a baby sometimes. It seems we have been able to have full conversations with her for a very long time even though she’s been with us less than four years.
The other evening I was reaching for a couple of TUMS when a sweet yet commanding voice could be heard just behind me.
“Daddy. Do you really need that much magnesium?”
Yes. She is her mothers daughter.
Sounds like you may have a future doctor or nurse there too! I’d be thrilled if my kids read more scientific books!
Jeremy (Discovering Dad)s last blog post..No More Stuck in the Middle – Chani’s Moving Up
@Jeremy – That is certainly what my wife is hoping for, and I’m not too opposed though I would like one of them to “inherit” my interest in computers.
Magic stuff.
xbox4nappyrashs last blog post..So you don’t fancy my soul
Thanks xbox – we think so.
That’s cool! I had similar (non-medical) conversations with my kids when they were little. I remember my son reminding us that bananas had Potasium, while his friends didn’t even know when the word banana stopped (bananananana…..).
Keep the neurons firing in that little girl.
Nice addition Mike! Keep challenging her we shall!
First, I LOVE the picture collage. Adorable. And that really is some amazing stuff.. you have an explorer on your hands. How exciting!
Kims last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – LET ME OUT!
Thanks for the kudos on the collage. Paint.net makes it pretty easy. She is definitely an explorer. Some of the stuff that draws her interest is truly magical.
I love how kids this age get fixated on stuff: “Do you need that much magnesium?” Beautiful!
toms last blog post..The Manival
Thanks Tom. Yes, their fixations are a constant source of entertainment and awe.
It’s amazing what little brains can absorb.
My son still uses the ‘my stomach hurts’ ploy to try to get out of going to school. I was hoping he would out grow that.
Tara R.s last blog post..Random Wednesday – misspent youth
mmmmmmmmm magnisiyummy
Dans last blog post..All things bright and beautiful
She never ceases to amaze me with her comments! Isn’t it nice to surrounded by nurses!
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p.s. I love reading this blog. ( did I get the lingo right?
I’d have to agree with Gramma! That child’s comments (and inherent wit) SO remind me of her GREAT Gramma!
You Go [little] GIRL!!
This reminds me so much of my own childhood – one where psychology texts were on every shelf.
Eventually, I became less enamored with the Sweet Valley Twins and very interested in the texts and learned far too much at far too early of an age….one I vividly recall was a study involving a man on LSD, his thoughts and analysis followed by study questions. I was maybe 8 – my poor parents! I had many study questions for them that’s for sure.
Huckdolls last blog post..New June’s Resolution
I bet’cha she becomes a doctor someday!!
Secret Agent Mamas last blog post..Project 365 (306/365)
Children have become as decisive as adults. They demand explanations for everything and will not settle for anything at face value.Children can form ambitions by watching successful elders, listening to discussions with friends, gaining inputs from teachers, taking tips from parents