We went to the beach yesterday. Goose was in heaven, diving right in, teaching herself to swim, being called back from going out too far; Little E, on the other hand, was a little stressed. He would not go near the water without me. He's fine in the pool, so the fear of the beach, while partially understandable, was a little excessive and definitely unexpected....until he started talking about sharks and whales eating him.
The kids have been asking for Bible bedtime stories lately. Jonah is a favorite. Perhaps I had been a little too vivid in my storytelling.
Anyway, Little E got more acclimated to the beach as the day went on (and after repeated assurances he would not get eaten) and eventually let me take him in - provided I was holding him the entire time.
That night in bed Little E initiated a what I thought was a rather amusing conversation. Maybe it is only funny to a mom, but I love to see how these little minds work and Little E is finally verbal enough to make things really entertaining.
Little E: Mom, I will take all the little fishes in my hands and save them from the sharks and whales so they not can eat them. (The "not can" inversion is one of my favorite little kid mistakes of Little E's.)
Me: Oh, you are? Well then what are the sharks and whales going to eat?
Little E: Goldfish.
Me: Goldfish crackers?
Little E: Yes.
Goose: You can't do that Ethan, they will get all soggy in water.
Little E: Oh. I will get in a boat and wait until the sharks and come to the top and then I will feed them food.
Me: What food will you feed them instead of goldfish?
Little E: Peanut butter sandwiches and smoosh-mallows and bananas and raisins and....(the list went on for several minutes.)
Me: Because you don't want them to eat the little fish anymore?
Little E: Yeah, yeah, I will save them. And I will feed the sharks and whales from my boat so that they will have food.
My son, the marine philanthropist.
