The other day my kids and I were out in the backyard like so many other afternoons. They were playing on their playset and I was sitting on the back deck rocking in my rocking chair and enjoying the breeze from my NewAir Misting Fan. When suddenly the kids come running and screaming up to me yelling as if the world were coming to an end.
One of them had apparently felt a raindrop and mass hysteria ensued. After giving them my best nice-try-but-we’re-not-going-into-the-house-and-watching-TV look, I told them to go back out and play. After a small protest they returned to the swings. A few minutes passed and far in the distance you could hear the faint low rumble of thunder.
“Hey, Hey daddy, did you hear that?” my son Greyson asked.
I could tell he was gearing up to make the argument that the thunder was reason to let him come in and play Mario Kart Wii.
“Yes, I heard the thunder that was far off in the distance. You don’t have to worry about that, you just keep swinging.” I said in an attempt to stop him before he started.
“First comes thunder then comes the lightning.” He wasn’t going to let this die.
“Actually, thunder is the sound that lightning makes. They happen at exactly the same time, but we often see the lightning first because light travels faster than sound.” I decided to turn this in a bid for dad of the year by giving him a physics and meteorology lesson.
“Oh.” He said. He seemed to be content with my answer and just continued to swing in silence.
But his little mind wasn’t just sitting idle, he had been deeply contemplating what I had told him about thunder and lighting and he blurted out with the following deep philosophical question:
“Hey dad, what if you get hit, zapped and die from lighting, right before you were going to get married?”
“What???” I tried to respond. “You…well…um…I…ugh….” I didn’t even know how to respond. Finally after a moment of stuttering I responded with “Well that would be a big bummer.”
As he swung back and forth he yelled out to me. “Yeah that would be a bummer!”
And with that our thunder and lighting conversation came to an end.
So here I tried to teach him about thunder, lightning and the speeds of sound and light, but I’m pretty sure the only thing he’ll remember is it’s a bummer if you die from a lightning strike right before you’re about to get married. I can only hope my other 3 kids who were listening in silence picked up on something useful.
Thanks so much for stopping by. If you’re feeling clicky you can click on the picture below to vote for me.
Linked up to:
I’ve spoken with the Father of year commission this is definitely going to get you nominated. Oh by the way my daughter told me last week she wants to have ten kids. #kidssaythedamndestthings
Oh! I didn’t know you had such connections! 🙂
10 kids?!?? Please reminder that she said this right after she gives birth to her 1st! Lol
Have a good weekend.
Your post has yet again made me laugh out loud!
Indeed, what a bummer it would be to be hit by lightning just before the wedding…Rats…
Seriously, your kids are adorable!
Have a glorious weekend!
*Lia
Oh how I needed that laugh this morning Mike! I absolutely LOVE Greyson stories! They always make me laugh out loud and not just a little giggle either. We’re talking totally cracking up laughing here!
From what you’ve shared about him I don’t think his mind is EVER idle and I can only imagine how adorable and hilarious he is in person! Thanks for sharing and for the laugh.
Hope you’re having a great day!
Much love,
Lysa xx
Such a gorgeous thing to say, I just love the innocence of children’s minds x #BigFatLinky
As it happens it rained on my wedding day, although there was no thunder. COincidently, I’ve just had the same conversation with my eldest daughter following some thunderstorms over here. #BigFatLinky
How did you handle the part about dying right before you get married? 🙂
Haha another great one!! Loving what your kids say! And is exactly why i suggested #ftmob Thanks for linking up with us on the #bigfatlinky hope to see you there this week
Lol, that’s brilliant – yes it certainly would be a bummer to get hit by lightning just before you were about to get married. Am sure the bride-to-be would agree too! So funny what children take on board when we try to explain things isn’t it? Thank you for sharing with #ftmob 🙂
Thanks for hosting. You’re right, it is funny what they think about while we’re explaining things to them.
Surely it would depend on who you were about to get married to…?
Either way, I’m a huge fan of the science explanations, particularly meteorology-based topics. I got rather excited about a lightning bolt I managed to capture with my camera last summer (not literally, just a photograph of it).
My elder son has a major fascination with volcanoes right now, so maybe he’s going down the geology path, which would be fine. Which reminds me, it would probably also be a bummer if a volcano erupted all over you, and melted you just before you were about to get married..!
#BrilliantBlogPosts
Haha, love the way kids’ minds work and their honesty! This made me laugh out loud. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogpots x
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂