This post from a couple of years ago is one of my favorite vacation-related posts. Kids and their questions. And poop jokes.
Originally posted Aug. 2012:
Some scenes from our annual family vacation at the lake:
Anyone for scuba?
On a walk with 3 kids, ages 6, 5, and 3
“Guys, see that flower? It’s called Queen Anne’s lace. Isn’t it pretty?”
The kids pick it, sniff it. One says, “It kind of smells like poop.”
“Yeah, it smells like POOP!” the others agree. Giggles all around.
At the nature center
The kids run around marveling at the fish, frogs, snakes, and turtles in tanks. There is also a large stuffed bear.
Kids: “Is that alive?”
Dad: “It was, but now it’s not. It’s stuffed.”
Kids: “So it’s dead?”
Dad: “Well, yeah.”
Kids: “WHEN was it dead, Daddy? How did it GET dead? Are there real bears here, Daddy?!”
On a hike
My niece and I pick a bouquet of flowers on a nature walk to bring home to my mother. (NOT including Queen Anne’s lace.) Later that evening after the kids are in bed, looking at the lovingly handpicked blooms displayed in a water glass, Gram says, “That one’s deadly nightshade. I didn’t want to say anything earlier.”
Me: “So, wait. It’s poisonous? It can KILL you?”
“Well, slightly.” Huh. I didn’t realize there were degrees of deadliness.
Fishing
Kids: “Can we go fishing now? Fishing! Fishing! Daddy, take us fishing!”
Dad: “OK. Who’s going to put the worm on the hook?”
Kids: “Ewwww! Worms are slimy! Gross!”
Sitting on the dock, a power boat goes by, creating waves.
“Aaaaahhh! Scary! Daddeeee!” The 3yo screams in fear as the dock rocks gently.
Dad: “Hey, we caught one! Guys, come look.”
Kids: “Aaaaahhh! It’s scary! I don’t like that fish!”
In their defense, this particular fish WAS sort of scary. We learned later at the nature center that it was a chain pickerel, which is apparently a voracious carnivore that attacks prey several times its size.
Maybe the kids should stick to picking stinky, poisonous flowers.
