HATE and TOOTS

I had Carissa and Hunter in the car heading to the mall a few days ago. There were some maintenance trucks of some kind in the median. I hadn't really paid much attention to them, but Carissa said, "I just hate to see that."

Hunter said, "Don't say that word. It is a bad word."

Grammy, "Huh? What, what is a bad word?"

Hunter replied, "Hate is a bad word."

I asked Carissa what it was that she hated to see. She answered, "I hate to see trucks broke down on the side of the road."

I explained to both kids that hate, the way Carissa used it was not a bad word. If you use the word hate as in, I hate you, I hate my Brother, Mother, or Grammy; then it is a bad word. They were both listening and I felt very proud of myself of distinguishing the difference in the way the word is used on a level that a three and four year old can comprehend.

About thirty seconds of silence ensued, and I heard from the backseat, "Hate is a bad word." I gave up and changed the subject.

Tonight we have all three of them. Pawpaw picked up Carissa on his way in from the airport, and I already had Alex and Hunter. They played "Monster" with flashlights, did the Boogie Man with Pawpaw, ate Popsicles, and watched a movie. Pawpaw checked a lot of oil among giggles tonight.

We all piled into bed, yes all, Carissa, Hunter, Alex, Pawpaw, Shasta, and me. Boogie Man and giggles continued as we tried to get the kids to wind down. Everyone had been quiet for about 10 minutes when someone tooted. I just ignored it hoping that they were all already asleep, but of course that would have been too easy.

The first one to say anything was Hunter. He wanted to know what was that, but he knew. Pawpaw let out a laugh, so I knew who the culprit was. That wound Carissa up with, what is that smell. Everyone erupted in giggles. Carissa had evidently covered her head, because she asked if the smell was gone. We said yes. This set off a whole other range of questions. Carissa wanted to know where the smell went. I tried to explain that it dissipated/disappeared. It was not enough of an explanation for Carissa,

Carissa, "But where Grammy? Where does it disappear to?"

Grammy, "In the air Carissa. It disappears into the air."

Carissa, "But where in the air, Grammy?"

Grammy, "Let's go to sleep now, we will talk about it in the morning."

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