On kids that can read

It is very exciting to have kids that can read.  It makes you feel proud and accomplished as a parent.  It makes you feel reassured about their potential and that you adequately gave them the start they needed as babies/toddlers/preschoolers/etc to be successful in an academic manner.  Reading isn't everything, but it is SOMETHING and a pretty big something at that.

All that being said, life can be more difficult when kids can read.  It has repeatedly required that I discuss a topic or topics when I am least prepared to do so.  Here are some recent examples:


1.  Mom? What is a terrorist?  What is a terrorist attack?  (Amelia after reading the news crawler on the TV at a restaurant.

2. Mom?  Why do they sell napkins in this bathroom?  Wouldn't it be gross to eat in here? (Amelia in the public bathroom.  and yes.  It would be gross to eat in there.)

3.  Mom?  What does control top mean? (William while in a store, reading a label.)

4.  Mom?  What are human-ly raised chickens?  Chickens are human, are they? (William at the grocery store.  Mispronouncing humanely.  No chickens are not human.  Humane is a different topic all together.)

5.  Mom?  What do they sell at Hooters? (William from the backseat of the car.  While I understand Hooters is a restaurant, I am not sure what they are selling.)

6. Mom?  Why did you turn there?  It says No Turning ahead (various child from the backseat.  It does say no turning, but it means ahead of us.  Not here.)

7.  Mom?  Why are some animals endengered? Don't people care? (William, from the backseat on a trip to Minnesota.  Yes, he misprounces endengered.  I find it endearing).

8. Mom?  Why does that shirt say "_________"  What does that mean? (William or Amelia.  Take your pick as to what the shirt says.  There are many options.  My favorite was the one that they wanted explained reading "I'm with stupid".)

9.  Mom?  If the sign says "No food or drink allowed" why is that lady bringing in coffee?  Isn't that a drink?  (Either kid.  At top volume in maximum proximity to the person we are discussing.)

10. Mom?  What is Ebola?  Why are all the people talking about it. (William after overhearing part of a discussion in the waiting room at the dr office and reading the signs about it.)