Finding Categoreis that Daddy Will Recognize

Daniel needed something from downstairs at bedtime, so he asked me to run down to the kitchen to get it. I asked him where it was in the kitchen. He told me it was on the table with wheels.

This detail completely threw me for a loop. I think I would have figured it out eventually - there is one counter in the kitchen which is free-standing, rather than part of the built-in design, and yes, once you think about it, it does have wheels, even though we never move it. But wheels are the last detail I would have considered; if he had mentioned the black marble-topped counter, I would have known what he meant immediately. But then, of course, being six years old, his perspective is literally much closer to the ground than mine is.

As I was trying to figure out which "table" he had in mind, Ian thoughtfully contributes his own interpretive services, as he is known to do, quite helpfully, on various occasions when Daniel or Madeleine need a bit of inter-generational interpretation. So he told me that this was the table with the wine bottles. As soon as he mentioned those props, I knew exactly what Daniel had in mind, and I congratulated Ian with the helpfulness of his extra detail.

Then Ian explained his thinking: "I decided to give you a good hint that you would probably know."

So Ian understand that Daddy knows nothing about wheels on furniture, but if you mention the wine, he'll immediately regain his bearings.

I suppose I should be glad that my son knows me so well...

(February 7, 2012)