Unlocked

Little Miss Thing, age 7: “Can I learn how to unlock your car?”

Me: “Sure, kiddo. Here’s the key.”

LMT: “How do I unlock everything at once?”

Me: “No, I bought this one used and it doesn’t work that way. The guy showed me how to unlock the driver door, then reach inside to manually push the unlock button.”

LMT: “I think you turn it and hold it.” (turns key and holds)

Me: “No, don’t hold it turned like that. You need to…

Car: <click>
(all locks on car pop unlocked)

Me: …

LMT: “Told you.”

Me: (slow blink)

Moral of the story: Keep learning.

And don’t question LMT.

Read On

I can barely stand the irony of sternly talking to the boy for reading past lights out.

His mother and I both were that kid, always reading past lights out. I honestly believe I needed glasses so early in life purely because of all the hours reading by flashlight.

Son, if you read this some day, we both love that you want to read for a couple extra hours every night, but your sister keeps telling on you.

Please get better at hiding it.

There is Time

Me: “If we budget for it, could we do Europe next summer?”

Wonderful Wife: “I’d love to do Europe!”

Danger Monkey, age 9: “No, we can’t go to Europe.”

Me: “Why is that?”

DM: “I haven’t learned Old Norse yet.”

(pause)

Me: “I love you, little viking dude.”