Monday, August 9, 2010

Conversations with my family


Conversation #1:

Husband: Serious Girl, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Serious Girl: I don't know.
Husband: Well, you could be an astronaut, or a doctor...
Serious Girl: A doctor!
Husband: Yeah! Or a writer, or a fire fighter...
Serious Girl: I want to be a writer.
Husband: What are you going to write?
Serious Girl: I don't know.
Husband: Are you going to write stories?
Serious Girl: Yeah!
Husband: What kind of stories are you going to write?
Serious Girl: Stories about elevators and toys.
Me: Serious Girl, did you know that you really can do that? There are some really famous and wonderful stories about exactly that -- elevators and toys.
Serious Girl: Also, I want to be a turtle.

Conversation #2:

[Husband finishes telling Serious Girl the story of Pandora's Box.]

Husband: Serious Girl, do you know what that story's about?
Serious Girl: Did everything get away and go way up in the air?
Husband: Yes. But really, it's about telling girls what to do. Every culture has some story that tries to tell girls that they shouldn't be smart or curious. You should be both. You should open every box.
Serious Girl: Really?
Husband: Really. You see, it was a trick. The gods would have let out all those bad things anyway, but they wanted to blame it on Pandora. Never do what you're told just because someone else says you have to. It's up to you to figure out the right things to do.
Serious Girl: Really?
Husband: Really. Can I have a smooch?
Serious Girl: Of course.


8 comments:

  1. Once she writes her stories...if she needs a beta reader, tell her I am her girl.

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  2. That inspired a needed awwwww moment on an otherwise cruddy day.

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  3. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. What a wonderful way to interpret the Pandora's Box story. Thank you for sharing this.

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  4. That was truly adorable, especially the turtle part. Let me know if she manages to pull that one off.

    Tawna

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  5. I'm mopping tears. I love the Of COURSE when asked for a smooch. Melted me to goo.

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  6. Serious Girl has some seriously cool parents.

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