Comments and Questions

Natalie is asking all sorts of questions these days. Some crack us up and others leave us grasping for a response.

As she was coloring the other day:

"I want to be a mommy when I grow up, but can mommies still use crayons?"

And after I commented on how nice her letters looked (she's writing the entire alphabet now and spelling her full name), she said,

"I'm just a smart girl."

When it was time for Natalie's daily vitamin, Corey asked her to get down on her hands and knees and "meow" like a kitty for it. I shouted across the room that we do not make children beg like cats for vitamins in this house. Natalie shouted,

"Yeah, Daddy. I don't have to beg for a vitamin (short pause) but it sounds like fun so I'm going to do it!" And she did.

When Corey was asking me to come snuggle him on the couch after Natalie had been tucked into bed, we heard her voice from the hall say,

"If you want someone to snuggle you, mister, I'll come snuggle you!"

And then, during one of those sleepy bedtime moments where wonderful questions and comments seem to just flow out of her mouth she admitted,

"I know I don't mind a lot, but I still love you."

Last night, as I talked with her at bedtime, she got really worried and said,

"I want to be a mommy and a grandma one day, but what if God is finished making things and people by the time I'm big enough?"

That one hit me like a ton of bricks. I did not expect this type of question from a 3 1/2 year old. I suspect her actual concern is how long it will take for her to get big (Christmas feels like ages away to Natalie). But I desperately want the world to be in a place that allows her to have any life she wants and my response lodged temporarily as a lump in my throat. I did my best to assure her that she would get to be a mommy and a grandma someday. And then I said a silent prayer.