Today I sat down to help William with his reading homework, and he immediately leaned in for a hug. I realized I hadn’t really cuddled with him at all today.
ME: Aw, William. Is life sometimes tough for you?
WILL: Yeah.
ME: What makes it tough to be William?
WILL: Hmmm . . . .
[he thinks for a bit]
WILL: Well, I really like ice cream.
[beat]
ME: Oh, you mean you like ice cream, but you only get to have it once in a while?
WILL: Yeah.
ME: And that’s what makes life tough?
WILL: Yeah.
ME: What else?
WILL: I have to do my reading before I can open up any of my Valentines. And it’s really tough to keep my eyes closed when someone is saying a prayer.
ME: It’s tough to do that?
WILL: Yeah, and when I’m praying, too.
[pause]
WILL: And that’s all.
ME: Those are the only things that make life tough? Not having enough ice cream, having to do reading before opening valentines, and keeping your eyes closed?
WILL: When there’s a prayer. And when I’m praying too.
ME: Well, let’s take care of one of those right now, okay?
Any guesses as to which one we did?