Kids and the Big Questions
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 10:24 PM
My daughter loves to look at our wedding pictures, at Mama and Daddy all dressed up. She likes to talk about our wedding, too, and I tell her all the details she wants.
She did surprise me one day, though. “Mama, remember when you and Daddy got married? And I was there?”
“Sweetheart, you weren’t.”
(In a sense she was, but I don’t think “twinkle in your father’s eye” is a concept she’s ready for yet.)
“Mama, yes! Yes I was! I was REALLY at your wedding! I REALLY remember!”
She felt strongly enough to yell, so I spoke softly. “Sweet girl, I’m sure about this. You weren’t born until more than four years later.”
We agreed to disagree.
But a couple days later she came back to the topic, curious. “Mama, at your wedding? If I wasn’t borned yet… where was I?”
One of the reasons I decided to major in theology in college was so when my children asked me the tough questions, I’d be more likely to have answers. What I didn’t factor in was the fact that the answers might not make sense to them!
I know “where” my girl was before she became my daughter. Unfortunately, “in the mind of God” is a difficult concept for a three-year-old.
After a few false starts, I ended up telling Camilla that she hadn’t existed yet, but that was only slightly better. Her interest piqued, she started listing people and wanting to know who existed in that mythical, many-years-ago time (2002!) when our wedding happened. She was fascinated by the idea.
The next time she saw her cousin she ran to give him a hug and I heard her explaining to him as they walked away, “Daniel, did you know? When my mama and daddy got married? You and I didn’t consist!”
Perhaps she’ll be a theology major herself someday. In the meantime, even when I can’t give her perfect answers, I’m glad to have the entertaining privilege of watching her figure out the world.
Photo courtesy of my younger brother
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