Friday, July 3, 2009

Not your normal kid conversation

We love our local library. They have a great kid room with lots for kids to do. This past week as I was watching Spencer and Campbell play in the "tree house" I over heard a conversation that I can't stop thinking about. There were three other little boys there. Two brothers (5 and 3 years old) and another little 5 year old boy(who happened to love Campbell and told me he was going to start babysitting).

The conversation went like this...

3 year old brother: My Daddy is a Soldier.
5 year old brother: No our Daddy is a Marine.
3 year old: No Soldier!
5 year old: But he is a Marine!
other 5 year old: My Daddy is a Soldier too!

5 year old brother: Is your Daddy alive?
other 5 year old: Yeah, is yours?
5 year old brother: Yeah mine too.

My heart sank when they asked if their Daddys were alive. They were asking it like it was a normal ole question that everyone gets asked. Sadly, this not so normal kid conversation is unfortunately much too normal.

It seemed some what appropriate that this conversation was this week right before 4th of July. I ache for all of those kids that can't say "yeah" to that question. And there are so many. God Bless those families and all the Soldiers past and present.

May you all have a HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

1 comment:

Masker # 7 said...

Ugh! Thinking about that just sorta punches me in the gut, huh? My Dad was a soldier too and is, thankfully, still alive and doing great now that he's retired. However, when he was about 6 or 7 he was 'caught' playing in a park after dark in Hattiesburg and the adult asked him, "Where's your daddy?" "I ain't got no daddy" was his response--his dad was a Marine and died when he was 3. Sigh.
Glad you shared this sweet story with us! I really love reading about your guys' adventures---I think Cassie and Spencer would have some hilarious conversations if we could ever get them together!! :) Much love to you and your family...and many thanks for your service to our country!
Kay Bryant Hoffman