Kids, unscripted

I took a couple of weeks off from everything for a family vacation in paradise. Trying to get back into the swing of things after a Hawaiian vacation that ended in a nasty cold has been challenging. Yesterday, I saw something fun going around in Facebook land and thought it would be an entertaining glimpse into my life. My children did not disappoint…

Instructions were this: WITHOUT any prompting, ask your child these questions and write down EXACTLY what they say. It is a great way to find out what they really think. I asked both of them alone so they couldn’t be influenced by the other person’s answers. It was funny what they got right, what they had no clue about and what they were completely wrong about. Enjoy!

Baby Sister, 5

1. What is something Mom always says to you? Um… that I’m cute
2. What makes mom happy? Um…when she is sick I always hug her and make her feel better
3. What makes mom sad? Um.. I don’t know
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Tickling me!
5. What was your mom like as a child? I don’t know
6. How old is your mom? 43?
7. What is her favorite thing to do? Um… I don’t know
8. How tall is your mom? I don’t know
9. What does your mom do when you’re not around? Work
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? For your kid
11. What is your mom really good at? Yoga
12. What is your mom not very good at? Um… watering trees
13. What does your mom do for a job? Writer
14. What is your mom’s favorite food? Bananas
15. What makes you proud of your mom? When she does stuff I want her to do
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be? Um.. Snow White or Ariel
17. What do you and your mom do together? Um… go to the park?
18. How are you and your mom the same? We have the same skin
19. How are you and your mom different? We have different hair!
20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because she always tells me!
21. What does your mom like most about your dad? They married (giggles)
22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go? I don’t know – where is your favorite place to go?
23. How old was your mom when she had you? I don’t know!

Big Sister, 13

1. What is something Mom always says to you? Clean your room
2. What makes mom happy? Getting good grades
3. What makes mom sad? Not getting good grades (chuckle)
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Telling me I’m a stinker bear
5. What was your mom like as a child? Um… aggressive.
6. How old is your mom? 43
7. What is her favorite thing to do? Write
8. How tall is your mom? 5’ 3”
9. What does your mom do when you’re not around? Write
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Writing
11. What is your mom really good at? Writing
12. What is your mom not very good at? Um.. dancing
13. What does your mom do for a job? Works in IT
14. What is your mom’s favorite food? Pasta
15. What makes you proud of your mom? That she believes in me
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be? Ariel
17. What do you and your mom do together? Sing in the car
18. How are you and your mom the same? We both have thick hair
19. How are you and your mom different? Hmm… hmmm… how are we different. (taps chin) We are different because I got to dance when I was younger and she didn’t.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? She tells me every day.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad? His attitude
22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go? Hawaii
23. How old was your mom when she had you? 30

So while Big Sister accurately knew my day job, Baby Sister only knows the job she sees me doing at home. I asked them why they both thought I would be Ariel because that surprised me. Big Sister said it was because I was determined, Baby Sister said it was because I had red hair. I guess they are both right. Surprising moments included when Big Sister knew that I was aggressive as a child and that I had always wanted to dance when I was younger. She must have been paying attention a lot more often than I think. I think it is a personal victory that I have embraced celebrating my age number ticking up every year when they both knew exactly how old I am. I have no idea why Baby Sister thinks I’m not any good at watering trees but I love that to her “I don’t know” is a valid answer to any question. I hope she never loses that. Very favorite answer from both of them? Knowing that they both know how much I love them because I tell them. Every. Day. On tap as we head into summer? More trips to the park and singing in the car together.