One conversation that J and I had today was on the topic of cancer. (It all started when I told him that blueberries have antioxidants and he wanted to know what antioxidants do.) We talked about all of the different types of cancer--skin, breast, lung, bone, brain, etc--and I tried to explain what cancer is in very simple terms. He didn't understand it very well, but enthusiastically explained cancer to D at dinner tonight. We briefly discussed what doctors have told us we can do to prevent cancer (ex. nutrition, exercise, etc.)
Later, I was following J as he got some final pre-bedtime exercise. He rode his bike and I walked behind him. At one point we could have either gone home or gone another block. When I asked him what he wanted to do he said "Mom, my lungs hurt and the bones in my feet hurt. I think it might be cancer, but I'll keep going another block because I know exercise will keep it from getting worse." I laughed and laughed--my poor kid has silly me as a mom--I hope you do a better job when your child asks you about cancer.
I love accompaning J on bike rides around the block--he seems so garrulous and carefree when he's pedalling. Most of the time he speeds ahead of me and waits at the corner until I catch up, and then we'll chat for awhile before he feels like speeding up again.
9 comments:
I think I'll call J sometime & ask him to explain cancer to me. I'm very interested.
I'll then determine your pay by his answer.
Sounds fair, right?
One of my favorite parts about being a mom is the chance to chat with my kids about real life issues. It's especially fun when they are 4 ;) Their responses and the way they comprehend the things we teach them are most times hilarious.
I am grateful he did not succumb to fear and just kept peddaling.
I love that you said garrulous. I'll have to google that to know what it means! I'm so happy to be in touch with you!!!! I love reading your blog and knowing how your sweet family is!
I LOVE that you didn't give him some "Dad from Calvin & Hobbes" answer but a real and true answer that gets his mind working! Even if he doesn't fully get it yet, you're still teaching him so much!
Nice! I would love to know what his explanation of cancer is. Maybe I will have to call and talk to you guys!
What a story and I ever heard of that before.
I, too, would love to have Joshua explain cancer to me. I love having those kinds of conversations with Grace. We had a great one about liquids cycling through your body and coming out as urine the other day as we were trying to get a urine sample from Grace. She then, helpfully, explained it to the doctor, just in case.
that's so cute and funny.
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