Sometimes Simon will answer a question with a non sequitur and I just assume he’s bored and wants to change the subject. Of course, most times he’s quite clear on this front and will say things like “I don’t want to talk about that any more.” Other times, I suspect there’s some little boy logic going on that I can’t follow.
But every once in a while Simon delights me with a response that reveals a thought process different from my own, but into which I am afforded a view. These times are magical, and we had one just a few days ago in the car coming home from Grandma and Papaw’s house.
Matt: “Simon, do you know what this song is?”
Simon:” I don’t know.”
Matt: “I used to sing this song to you when you were a tiny baby. It’s ‘The Kids are Alright’.”
Simon: long pause as he ponders this. “What happened to them?”
For a split second, I thought we had another of those opaque responses. Then just as fast a porthole opened: Simon mostly hears the expression “he’s alright” or “she’s alright”–or even “you’re alright”– after someone has hurt themself and appears otherwise. So of course he’d want to know what happened to the kids.
Sometimes I think the best part of being a parent are these occasional glimpses into a developing brain. This kid is alright!
This kid is way more than alright.