Preschool

When we decided to enroll L in preschool, we knew we needed to find something to challenge him.  If one thing was certain, it was that he is often too smart for his own good.  We fell in love with the cutest little country day school that everyone around us just raved about.  And, the fall after he turned three, off he went.

                I probably should have warned them about L, but quickly they learned to always expect the unexpected.  His classroom had a bulletin board outside where the parents lined up to pick up our children.  Each week the teachers would pose a question, and display the children’s answers.  One day I arrived to find everyone laughing, and they all watched me expectantly as I read the board.  The question was, “If you got into a car and drove 100 miles, where would you end up?”  There were so many cute answers on the board.  Disney World.  The grocery store.  Grandma’s.  And then there was L’s answer, “In Jail.” 

                There was really nothing more to do than roll my eyes.  On the way home I asked him about his answer, and was actually pretty impressed with his response.

                “L, why did you say you would end up in jail?”

                “Because I’m not allowed to drive.”

                Of course; silly me.  At least I didn’t have to worry about him becoming a car thief.  At least not yet.  It would seem, however, that we do need to be concerned about his love life.  L has always liked girls.  Many times he would rather play with little girls than little boys.  He has many “girlfriends” at school, but definitely has some favorites.

                One day he was telling my father about his girlfriends.  Because my father is just as much of a character as my son, that conversation was pretty interesting.

                “EO, I am going to marry Sarah.”  Sarah was our next door neighbor, and five years older than L.  He has had a huge crush on her, and loves to follow her around.

                “You are?  Does she know?”

                “Yep.  And Lisa is my girlfriend.”  Lisa was one of his favorites from preschool. 

                “Do they know about each other? Is Sarah ok with you having a girlfriend?”

                “Yes she is.”

                “Wow, you’re lucky.  Nanan won’t let me have a girlfriend.”

                “That’s sad, EO.  Why?”

                “When you’re married, you can’t have a girlfriend.”

                “Oh, ok.  Then I’ll marry them both.”

                “No, you can only have one wife.  Otherwise you’d be a polygamist.  They’re the only ones who can have more than one.”

                “Ok, then I’ll be a polygamist.” 

                And there is was.  From that day on, my child, who had been in speech therapy, would tell people clear as day that when he grew up, he was going to be a polygamist.  Which is why he I was very glad that he was absent when the question of the week was, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  Because if they giggled about jail, I am sure that his answer would have caused some belly aches.