Conversations with My Daughter
I try to limit the amount of stories I tell about my kids or my family, but I couldn’t hold this one back. This morning’s dialogue between my daughter and me made me realize I had to write this down. Sometimes the conversation is so poignant, it makes its own little story. I also decided to post a second conversation that took place between the two of us back in November. I want to remember these stories and her, in particular, at this age. She’s nine.
***
The Bills
This morning my daughter and I were getting ready to go to school; she was heading to her elementary school to learn and I was heading to my university’s campus to teach. I was sitting at the kitchen table as she buttered her waffles. I was paying a couple of bills.
“I thought you said you had to grade some papers,” she said.
“I do,” I said. “I just have to pay these bills first.”
She stopped buttering for a moment and looked at me.
“What’s more important? Grading your papers or paying the bills?”
“Right now,” I said, “paying these two bills. They are due next week.”
“And we don’t want to lose our house,” she said.
I chuckled. I once told her that you have to pay your mortgage so the bank doesn’t come and take your house away. She remembered.
“Right,” I said. “We like a roof over our heads. That’s why you have to work hard, go to college, and get a good job when you grow up so you can afford these things.”
She paused for a moment, letting my words hang in the air and sink in.
“That’s too much for me to think about this morning,” she said.
***
Women Doctors
My son was pretty ill back in November. We were on our seventh or eighth doctor visit, trying to figure out what was ailing him. I had picked my daughter up from piano lessons, and she knew we had to go directly from lessons to pick up my son and zoom off to the doctor. It was just the two of us in the car.
“So, we have to take Matt to the doctor?” she asked.
“Yes, we do.”
“Do you have to go to school to become a doctor?”
“Yes,” I said. “You have to go to college, then medical school. After that, you work in a hospital and then you become a doctor. Ms. Bari’s a doctor.”
“So, girls can be doctors?”
“Yes,” I said. “Girls can be anything they want to be.”
She thought for a moment.
“Just not priests, right?”
13 Comments
Alice
She is so correct, that is definitely too much to think about first thing in the morning! And I love the 2nd one too….I am always entertained by the precise observations kids can make.
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Alice,
I couldn’t contain my laughter in the car when she said it. It ranks as my favorite Ellie story.
🙂
Elizabeth
These stories remind me of conversations I have with my kids when they were younger. Marshall was so different in his thinking and his responses, we started calling his comments Marshall-izms.
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
I wish I had written/saved more stories, right Elizabeth? So great to look at them…
I will call them Ellie-isms from now on.
Currie
love that girl!
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Currie,
Awww…I know you do. Thanks for the love.
🙂
Stacey
Thanks for sharing both stories. It is amazing how kids absorb and give you their thoughts. What a great age!
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Stace—
I thought she would kill me when I showed her I posted this story, but she took it in stride. She may grow up to be a comedian.
LOL.
🙂
blythe
adorable! enjoy reading your blog when I can. Will your book be a hard copy to pick up? Congrats!
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Blythe–
Yes! It will be in paperback format…very soon. Thanks for checking in and hope all is well with you and the fam!
🙂
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Ingrid
Hi great reading yyour post
Stephanie Verni
Thank you. ❤️