Penelope (age 3) is the child in our house least likely to care. It’s not that she’s mean spirited or coldhearted; it’s just that she’s busy being very three. Her siblings, now eight and six, get excited about stocking the shelves of the local food pantry every week. At night they pray for the kids we sponsor. It was their idea to make a card for one of Redneck Neighbor’s daughters when she was too sick to come out and play.
While the older kids did these things, Penelope did three year-old stuff like put on a tiara and a tutu and jump on her bed and demand to be spun around in an office chair. Stuff like that.
But today was different. For a second she cared. Just a second.
She came and found me, reached for my hand and exclaimed that she’d adopted some kids. “Come see!”
She escorted me from my desk to her room, bounded onto her bed and plopped down in a big pile of stuffed animals. “I adopted them,” she said.
“Wow, I bet they’re so glad to have you for their mommy,” I said. “What are their names?”
They were all named Rachel or Sarah; even the boys. And they’d all been given clothes, she said. Earrings made from magnetic letters. One shoe. A headband and, of course, a tiara for the bear in the purple dress.
We played with her new babies for a minute and then I asked, “When you’re big are you going to adopt real babies like Aunt Amy and Uncle Brian?”
“Yes,” she said, and I was happier than happy. She cared.
And then, “‘Cause I don’t want a baby in my vagina.”
The second was over.
Texas in Africa says:
Well, honesty seems to be her strong suit.
annie says:
Oh. my. gosh.
LOL
Grovesfan says:
I thought they only taught sex ed. in public pre-schools.
Toby Taff says:
So, just exactly how long did it take for you to get off the floor after that comment? That’s hilarious.
Adam says:
holy crap.. that was hysterical
euphrony says:
As someone who works in one of those office things, I just nearly lost all control and created a major distraction with my laughter.
Seriously funny.
Tracy says:
that’s a pretty smart girl you have there!
Brad says:
Now that is funny! I would totally agree were I a woman.
Jill Foley says:
This is so funny! Love it!
Morgan says:
wow…sounds like a smart girl.
Dawn~Canada says:
Fu-nny! And very well informed!
Jade =) says:
That last part made me snort-laugh! Brilliant.
Stretch Mark Mama says:
Finally! Someone I can relate to! A three-year-old!
And we adopted, yes we did!
Good to see you’re starting the sex-ed early. I’m a big fan of that. I figure if they learn it early and learn it young (from the parents), then the topic doesn’t become weird as they get older. On my blog I reviewed a GREAT series of books that I use with my own kids once or twice a year. Click on my name to go directly to that post.
Stretch Mark Mama says:
Or, you know, maybe THIS link will work:
http://stretchmarkmama.blogspot.com/2007/06/let-me-tell-ya-bout-birds-and-bees.html
(Sheepish grin)
susan says:
You’re so lucky to be at home to get the comments first hand! I have to relay them (comments) to my husband who then says “see, another good reason for me to go to work and you work at home”

It’s a brave man that can deal with the girlies….
Kelly @ Love Well says:
I was holding the baby when I read this earlier in the week, so I was unable to comment then. But I’ve been laughing out loud about it ever since. It’s been my smile source. What a cutie.
Aaron Armstrong says:
My wife laughed really, really hard when I read your daughter’s reasoning to her. Awesome.
Prudence says:
I so enjoyed this. I was reading along kinda teary from the Compassion Kenya posts still and her little heart at adopting, then WHAM. Wow. You guys have a handful.