Conversation With A Six-Year-Old
My 6-year-old granddaughter was asked to get away from the TV for a while and do some writing or painting for a change.
"I don't want to write now," she responded.
"Why not?" her mother asked.
"Because!"
"What kind of talk is that! I want you to switch off that TV right now. Don't spend time doing nothing."
"But I am doing something. I'm watching TV."
"Don't give me a smart answer. Turn off the TV right now."
"No, I want to watch!"
Her mother turned off the TV and then, to boost her daughter's ego, said sweetly, "You have a good head on your shoulders, so use it."
"I know I have Mom, but I don't want to use it right now."
"Give me a good reason, sweetheart."
"Okay, I will tell you. Remember the other day at the store I wanted you to buy me a doll, but you didn't?"
"You have so many dolls."
"Yes, but you said you needed to save money for later use."
"What does that have to do with switching off the TV and doing something else for a change?"
"Well, I want to save my good head for later use, too! If I use my head now, I will have nothing left for school when I start Grade One in September, would I, Mom?"
Neela Kotak
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