Conversations with Children

One of the most delightful things about having children at the age mine currently are (4, 4 and 6) is the conversations you can have. Conversations with children at this age are fascinating, insightful and often so innocent and cute. It is amazing what you find out when you stop and properly make time to converse with your children.

I have recently been making a point of having more conversations. I deliberately ask my children about what they are looking forward to in their day ahead of them on the way to school (this has helped calm down many a school run). Through this I often discover their likes and dislikes at school, who’s friends with who as well as things they always forget to tell me, like tests or special events!

I am currently preparing for their birthday party in March, so we have been having lots of conversations this week about what sort of party and cake they would like and who to invite.

Whilst discussing this with BB, he told me he has to invite V as she is his girlfriend! Yes, age 6 he says he has a girlfriend and he wants to marry her and apparently she wants to marry him!! He then added “she is desperate” “I am desperate to marry her”!!! Oh my goodness! I really didn’t know what to say. I realise he has absolutely no concept of this at this stage, so whilst laughing inside and just smiling on the outside we had a little conversation about marriage and I left it at that. What do you say??

Following this, marriage and babies have obviously been on BB’s mind as he has been asking questions like “how old were you when you got married?” and “how old were you when you had me”? These were ok and we discussed things, then he moved onto the question of “why can’t boys have babies?” Oh boy, another tricky question….I just said that boys are made differently to girls and boys don’t have room for babies. He didn’t question any further, but I think we may have to visit these type of questions again in the not so distant future.

This also reminded me of a conversation we had quite a while ago about how children are made. BB asked me if I gathered all his bones and bits and stuck him together? Er, no, I had to explain that babies grow, but unfortunately we never did get to finish that conversation as we arrived at school. I am not looking forward to the day he asks this again 😉

It is so cute, the things children come out with, fascinating hearing the way they think, so literal sometimes, their logic often upside down. I am enjoying the little conversations we are having at bedtime during our quiet time routine. BB has been telling me all about the Titanic this week, he just loves facts. I am learning so much from him, both factual and insightful into his world.

It is so important to make time like this to connect and really listen to what children have to say, it is amazing what you might find out! I am loving it!