On the way to school the other morning Santa Claus came up in conversation (Note: my kids have no sense of timing. Santa can be discussed in June, and Summer holidays recalled during snow storms. How their minds work is any ones guess). Anyway, the 4 year old wanted to know how long old man Santa had been around for.
"Um, well, for a very long time dear. Santa came to Mummy and Daddy when they were small and even came to grandma when she was a little girl".
Grandma is their benchmark for all things old (sorry Grandma).
Their eyes widen in wonder at how many years Santa must have been at this game.
"So has he been around longer than God then?" the 6 year old asked. (Told you they thought she was old. Sorry Grandma).
"Oh no. God's been around for, well forever. Since the very, very beginning of everything".
There was total silence for a few moments whilst the wonder of this information was digested. I imagined them picturing the planets revolving and possibly a dinosaur lumbering past. Then the 4 year old piped up again.
"So how did God make his sandwiches then?"
I have no answer for that. We sit and contemplate it together.
It's funny what they come out with. My 4 year old nephew was talking about babies the other day and he said "my gran says babies come out your bum, but they don't", I said "so where do they come from", he says " from your belly" and I said "how do they get out of there", and he replies"they walk out" I nearly choked with laughter!
ReplyDeleteI almost shattered a whole class of 8yr olds belief in the big man in December. I told them that I didn't want to see Santa on the advent calendar they were drawing as he didn't exist when Jesus was born. Quickly had to explain why not!
ReplyDeleteI love your sons concern about the provision of sandwiches. Such a gorgeous story...
ReplyDeleteTake care Kate.
How adorable is that??? He is worried about getting something to eat? How cute is he?!
ReplyDeleteI love the way their minds work, so untainted!
ReplyDeleteWas slightly embarrassed today when my Boy pointed at a scruffy man with a big beard and said "Santa, santa"
My son was once wandering along the road with a bag of crisps and he suddenly said he could hear God speaking to him. 'What's he saying?' I said. 'He's saying, can he have some of my crisps,' he said, 'but he's not having any.'
ReplyDeleteIt's a valid point. How did he makes his sandwiches? I'd like to think God can click his (or her) fingers and go "SANDWICH!" and one appears. Wouldn't that be one of the benefits of being God? And not having to see pictures of Kerry Katona in the paper.
ReplyDeleteThis is the third time I have tried to post this - I keep clicking away before the letters bit dur- anyway I said something like parents need a handbook of answers to tricky questions and could that sort one of your listography items for this week- to write a book? ;)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! How come grownups don't come out with those kind of things? When do we lose that? Like your list this week btw, made me crack up - I'm in your camp re marathons! xx
ReplyDeleteBless him - that is so sweet. I find I can rarely answer any of the questions my kids ask these days - nightmare! Or they leave the really embarrassing ones to ask loudly and clearly in a crowded public place.
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