Boy Cheese Sandwiches?

"Mom, if there are girlcheese sandwiches, can we have boycheese sandwiches?"

This was one of the many entertaining phrases my John put together when he was young. I never knew when he'd come up with another..

This same child was very frustrated with some aspect of my parenting, when at 5 he strongly requested, "Mom, Go to Heaven."

When he was 2 and his sisters were 3 and 5 I was feeding them a late dinner. We were all a wee bit tired. My husband was out of time and I missed his evening help. John, tore the top off his pizza and shoved it in his mouth. I noticed Caitlin did the same thing. I responded quickly and tersely, "Caitlin, don't eat like that, John's a baby but your'e  not; you're a young lady of 5, so act like one."

With the same terseness and arms on hips she replied, ladylike, "I am not a baby and I am not a lady, I am just a plain Woman!"

We were driving away from Yosemite National Park. I was telling my husband, "John is such a literalist"; with indignation he replied, "I am not, Scottie is the littlest!!"

Another interesting dinnertime was when he was 5, his sisters were 6 and 8. My oldest daughter, Caitlin was invited to Disney for the day. Now, the next day we found out that her friend meant to invite Alanna, Caitlin's younger sister, but got the names mixed up. Alanna struggled all day with her jealousy but kept her feelings to herself. At dinner time she prayed that her sister would have a wonderful day at Disneyland. I was so taken with her attitude of sweetness in this prayer that I commended her for her prayer. Well, my sympathy did her in and she started crying.  Though embarrassed by this, she let it flow.  I proceeded to walk around and pick her up and give her a huge hug. After she was settled back to dinner I walked back to my chair, and to my surprise noticed John with big tears tracking down his face. 

I said,"Oh John, how sad you must feel?" "No."

The counselor in me came out, "Your heart must be hurting?" "No"

"You really care for Alanna and are bothered by her pain?"

"NO, water is coming out of my eyes!"

I've always pondered how, at 5, had he learned this manly trait.

Just a few memories.