As moms, we frequently wonder what exactly is going in on our children’s heads. My 5-year-old is an interesting kid…sometimes he has many opinions and sometimes he just has nothing to say. He’s a typically unpredictable Kindergartner in that respect. So I decided to prepare a few questions for an interview and thought we would go from there…he was in a very matter-of-fact mood on this day…
What makes a good Mommy?
Ummm…enough sleep.
Well that’s quite true. Anything else?
Us being nice.
What do Mommies need to know about children?
I don’t know. I love you. Yes? That’s good.
What kinds of things should all Mommies do with their children?
Umm…play.
Like play what?
Trucks.
Anything else?
No, that’s all.
What should your Mommy be doing differently?
Play with me more, because you never play with me.
[Husband interjects]: Excuse me, but who does all the cooking and cleaning up and laundry? YOU??
[Child giggling] NO! That’s Mommy!
So perhaps if you help out with more chores, then Mommy can play more?
Well….maybe, but I don’t know about that…
How can you be a better son?
Be nice.
What makes a person nice?
Giving hugs. Like me.
Who are nice people that you know?
James. He doesn’t give me hugs, but he’s a nice kid.
What is your Mommy doing well?
Ummmm…you’re doing well getting more Legos and I’m having fun with them.
How does someone become a Mommy?
I don’t have anything for that. You were a Mommy when I was born.
Can anyone be a Mommy?
Oh yes, but only girls.
Do you think we were scared when we had you and became parents?
No…
Do you think we were happy?
Yeah! You were really excited because that’s a really good thing having a baby.
When you were a baby, what did you think of me?
That was a long time ago, I don’t know stuff about that.
Do you think that you will have kids one day? How many?
Yeah, you can type that in if you want…I’ll have four kids.
What do you think it will be like to have four kids?
I’m going to be trying to keep them to be nice. They are going to be twins. No maybe not. I think that’s good to not have twins. Like we don’t have twins.
What is it like to be in charge of people.
You have to be nice. But it’s really hard. When I’m an adult I think it will be really easy.
What’s the best thing about being a parent?
Going to work. Because when the kids are being bad, you get to just go to work.
But what about when the kids are being really fun and you don’t want to go to to work?
Oh, I’ll just come home early on those days.
Is it hard to be 5?
Yes, really hard because I get really crazy and all that stuff. Because sometimes I don’t stop fighting. And I love you but I want to stop fighting.
Who do you fight with?
You and Maddy and Collin.
Could it be different?
Yeah, we could stop that.
What’s the best thing about being 5?
Going to school. Being in Kindergarten is the best thing ever!
What’s it like being the oldest?
I’m supposed to be nice to them. Sometimes helping them. Like helping Collin with his trucks. Because most times I see Collin trying to put that truck on the counter and I help him. That’s really nice, isn’t it?
Do you like being the oldest or wish it was different?
I like being the oldest. I’ll always be the oldest because I’m the first one born.
What would it be like to not have any siblings?
There would be less fighting and Collin wouldn’t take away my trucks. I would love that.
What else do you want to tell me?
I think that’s all.
So apparently, food, shelter and cleanliness are not important at all to my 5 year old. But playing trucks and Legos are pretty much the most important things in his world. At least now I know that he holds “being nice” in high regard. It’s good to be a kid.
What burning questions would you have for your child?
