Questions

I heard that a child asks an average of 122 questions per day. I have 3 kids. You do the math. And, yes, I am counting the baby. Because although he cannot formulate a real question just yet, there is a question in every “Uh.” as he points his way through his surroundings. I answer as he points. Cup. Grass. Sock. Shoe. Sky. Bird. Dog.

It can be exhausting, but it can be so much fun too.

Kyle: “Mommy? Why are some people in wheelchairs?”

Me: “Well, it’s usually because their legs don’t work”

Kyle: “But, why don’t their legs work?”

Me: “Well, sometimes they are born that way. Kids can be in wheelchairs too. Sometimes people can be in a car accident and they can’t walk after that. There are lots of reasons, but they are still people just like you and me.”

Kyle: “Or, they can fall down and get hurt?”

Me: “Yes. I guess they can fall and get hurt. That’s right. Probably if they fall and get hurt and then can’t walk then they probably fell from pretty high up and hurt their spine”.

Kyle: “That NEVER happens to Spiderman”.

 

He is such a boy. Yet, he surprises me all the time with his sensitivity too. Like the other day when  he said, “Mommy. I have some people I love around on my heart.”

“Huh?” I respond, a little confused.

“I have some people that I love around my heart”.

Avery asks, “Like the heart in your body?”

“Yeah” he says.

“Oh!” I say, “Well whose name is around your heart?”

“It’s a secret.” He replies, holding his hand over his heart.

This little conversation leaves me with some questions.

Like:

How did I get to raise such sweet, compassionate kids?

How does he know about loving someone else already besides family?

Am I letting him watch too much of that Care Bears show?

How many times am I going to have to watch this boy get his heart broken?

Kyle is my sensitive one. He is going to make a good husband someday. Just like my husband. He is a tad emotional (like me), but he is sensitive too. I’m afraid he is going to get his heart broken a million times over.

After all, he has declared at the age of 4 that he loves a little girl in his class.

I think it’s sweet, but it was interesting when I actually met this little girl’s mommy the other day. I knew who the little girl was, but had never  met her Mom. So, I ran into her at the after school pick up and said, “Are you Izzy’s Mom?”  “Yes!” she replied. “Well, Kyle has a thing for Izzy I think.” I recount the story to her about what he told me. “Ms. Jessica told me!” she replied referring to the teacher. She goes on to say, “I went home to tell my husband that a boy in her class likes her. He wasn’t too sure about that. He asked me, ‘Do I have to start worrying about that already?’ so I’m not sure how he feels about it. But, we should have a playdate some time!” she says (although not turning over her phone number at all). I turn to Kyle in the backseat and say, “Would you like to go to Izzy’s house to play some time?” I kid you not, the kid blushes, and gets this dreamy look on his face. My son is in love. At four. And, based on how this mom was acting to his declaration of love, I doubt that playdate will be happening anytime soon. Who knows, maybe she will surprise me.

I just hope that he doesn’t have too much heartbreak before he is….let’s say,….I don’t know, 10? Because I don’t know if my heart can handle this little man’s heart getting broken.