About four in the afternoon, we were still doing school. We started talking about the current war, then about vets. Thomas sat back and reflected. I could tell he was really thinking hard about something. Then he made a quizzical expression, I was expecting a deep, profound question from him.
"Mom, did my grandpas fight in the Viet Nam War or the Civil War?"
Now, I'm a good mom who supports my son. He is highly sensitive and I deal with that very well on a daily basis. But not today. I burst out laughing. In fact, it might be because I was very tired, it was late in the day, or I was feeling extremely blue today, but I laughed so hard I had tears coming down my face.
Thomas has come a long way because he actually started laughing in with me. Whew, I didn't hurt his feelings.
I looked at him and told him to think about how old both grandpas are/were. I see the light bulb pop over his head. "Oh, DUH, mom, the Civil War was in the 1800s. They were in WWII."
Thank goodness he figured that out and joined me in further laughter.
Tonight while he was at the train club with his dad, I called my dad. I told him what Thomas had asked. My dad roared! He then said he feels as though he were in the civil war. Three of my father's grandfathers were in the Civil War. I think we may have to go off on a tangent tomorrow, get my genealogy out, and go through our war patriots.
We have one known that served in the Revolutionary War. We have oodles that served in the Civil War. The day my granddad signed up for WWI, it was over. How lucky was he! Both of Thomas's grandfathers were in WWII.
My great-great-great grandfather fought in the Mexican Wars. I know nothing about that period and I need to do some research, and quickly.
Sometimes when you're down and out (I was having an awful day today mood wise) one simple yet innocent question will make you laugh and snap you back into reality.
God, I love my kiddo! (Just not when he wakes up grumpy, as he's been doing the past two days.)
5 comments:
That is very funny. My son is just starting to show an interest in military history, and we are having a lot of fun with it as well. I am sure your Dad loved the Civil war reference!
It is so cool to have such a long history as Americans. My family line is all Immigrants who came over from Wales and Italy in the 19th century. The oldest miliary we had on American soil are tracing back to the French-Indian wars, on the Indian and French side!
I was thinking about you yesterday ... not having scouts and all. Glad you had a good laugh.
A belly full of laughter is a great cure for a not so great day and its even better when our children can be the ones to make it happen.
Glad you both enjoyed a good chuckle!
Glad to see you are back blogging, missed reading your acct's. Military kid who is Thomas' age asks the same question all the time too. Glad you were able to laugh.
Aww that's cute!
I love it when you're able to laugh like that with your kids:)
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