He's Listening...

The little guy came home from our visit to the museum with a long green snake. He had asked, "Can I have a souvenir?" so nicely that we couldn't refuse, which we have no interest in doing anyway. Two grandparents, two aunts, one uncle, the little guy and his snake were sitting around the kitchen table after dinner. The little guy turned to me and said, "This snake is poisonous. Why do you think he is?" I said, "He's poisonous so he can protect himself from his enemies." He turned to his uncle and said, "Why do you think he's poisonous?" His uncle said, "I agree with Oma. I think she's right." "No," said the little guy, "say something different." Oh, boy--I'm so glad I got to go first! "How about, so he can kill his food?" "Okay." Obviously, thinking of a new answer got much harder as he asked his question of each of us around the table. Having heard from everyone, he slid off his chair so he could coil the snake on the floor, talking non-stop about his snake's characteristics. It had been a long day, but the adults were the only ones whose energy was flagging. I said quietly, "Anyone who doesn't understand why his mommy is always exhausted, raise your hand." Amid the quiet chuckles, he piped up, "I don't think anybody knows." I assumed he was still talking about his snake, but Opa asked, "Knows what?" "Why my mommy's always exhausted."