Henry: I wish I were a hermit. Or an orphan.
Me: Hmm, really?
Henry: Yes. What’s a hermit again?
Me: A hermit is a guy who lives off by himself, away from people and restaurants and the mall.
Henry: Oh. Okay maybe that’s not what I want to be.
Me: Okay.
Henry: I want to be an orphan.
Charlie: What’s an orphan?
Henry: Someone who doesn’t have any parents. That’s what I want to be.
Me: Hmm. Why is that?
Henry: Because then I could do WHATEVER I WANTED.
Me: Oh, I see.
Henry: I could do computer ALL DAY.
Me: That’s true. But when you were done playing on the computer, who would make your dinner?
Henry: Oh. I hadn’t thought about that. Maybe I don’t want to be an orphan.
Me: Good.
When I told my dad about this, he said, “Did you remind him that no one would be there to hug him?” and I said, “No, because that doesn’t work for Henry. He needs to know where his chicken nuggets are coming from.”
8 Comments so far
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You gotta love a kid who’s heavy on the practicality.
By WriterGrrl on 05.04.07 11:26 am | Permalink
Henry is very wise.
By Annika on 05.04.07 11:55 am | Permalink
Gee. My husband had that exact same conversation - well, the last half of it, with only very slight differences - with his seventeen-year-old “I hate my family” daughter only just last week. Good times.
By MaryP on 05.04.07 2:03 pm | Permalink
It’s all about the nuggets, man.
By Mara on 05.04.07 3:42 pm | Permalink
Wait until he gets older and you take the leap to teach him how to make his own chicken nuggets. I’ve just taught my 7-1/2-y/o HFA son, so as soon as he masters those Lego instructions, I’ll probably find my bags packed and by the door.
By Stephanie on 05.04.07 8:02 pm | Permalink
A sage. The boy is a sage.
By wordgirl on 05.04.07 9:51 pm | Permalink
What a great conversation. It’s a smart child that knows that chicken nuggest don’t grow on trees.
By irene on 05.05.07 2:01 pm | Permalink
So true…My O could do without the hugs but food, now that’s a different story.
By cce on 05.07.07 4:23 am | Permalink
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