Last weekend I babysat my sister's four kids so she and her husband could have a date night. I adore her kids, who range in age from six years to ten months old, and see them at least once a week.
While we were all cleaning up the play room before dinner, the baby spit-up on himself and the floor, as babies are wont to do. It was really gross and I muttered about how disgusting it was as I cleaned it up. Here's the conversation that ensued with my six-year-old nephew, Elijah:
Elijah (matter-of-fact, like an adult): Yep, you've got to get used to spit-up when you have a baby around.
Me: I know, but it's still gross.
(Brief pause)
Elijah: Is that why you aren't getting married and having babies?
I tried to explain to Elijah that it wasn't that easy to get married, that I don't want to marry just any random person I meet on the street. He didn't seem to understand that you can't simply go out and find someone to marry in the same way you pick out new living room furniture.
When he continued to pester me about why I wasn't married, I changed tactics. I pointed out that if I were married and had kids of my own, I wouldn't be able to come visit Elijah and his siblings all the time and spend as much time with them, because I'd be too busy taking care of my own kids.
"Ohhhh, I understand. I see what you're saying," came his knowing reply. Apparently satisfied, he dropped the subject.
The fact that I felt I had to provide a satisfactory explanation of my spinsterhood to a six-year-old is a pathetic sign of my own views of said single status. But hey, trying to avoid spit-up seems like just as valid a reason as any to still be single, so maybe I'll go with that from now on when I'm asked.
3 comments:
Haha! Oh I love it!
It's as good a tactic as any.
Doesn't Elijah know that you can't ask women questions like that?
Maybe if I eat him that will solve the problem!
Don't you just love how kids speak their mind? I remember babysitting when I was twelve and the little girl I watched pointed to a blemish on my face and asked, "What is that?" All of my efforts to change the subject were unsuccessful. She just kept pointing at it and touching it. I was happy to go home that night.
As for spit up... Ryan rarely ever spit up (maybe 5 times total). So when Mariel was born and I began watching her once a week, that was a whole new experience. It still grosses me out and I have to wash my hands a couple of times to relieve the panic feeling of being dirty. Hopefully this next one is as good as Ryan, right? Otherwise I'm in for a rude awakening and will need much more soap. :o)
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