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.

Having a (Fire)Ball

Danger Monkey, age 10: “Please be quiet.”

Little Miss Thing, age 7: (loud singing)

DM: “Dad, I need to cast Mage Hand to put a magical hand over her mouth.”

Me: “Sorry, buddy. We’re not playing D&D. You’re stuck back there with your sister for the rest of this car ride. Can you maybe think of a better way to resolve this?”

DM: “Yes, but I’m not level 5 so I can’t cast fireball yet.”

LMT: “What…?”

Me: “What…?”

Necessary Risks

(long wait in exam room at pediatrician)

Me: “So this Well Visit flyer says boys around age 10 may start taking unnecessary risks.”

(boy jumps off exam table onto his face)

Danger Monkey, age 10: “Owww.”

Me: “I have no idea what they are talking about.”

(boy rides rolling exam stool into wall with his face)

DM: “I don’t know, either.”

(boy climbs wall, hits face on window sill as he falls)

Me: “Yeah, it’s a big mystery.”