By Sylvia Wells
In this hyper-stimulating world we live in there aren’t many places you can go to enjoy quiet time with your children. That is why I make the most of my time in the car with my kids. There are no distractions, (and no escape), it’s a great time to reconnect and get to know each other a little better.
My eight year old son and I were chatting in the car on the way home the other day. On the topic of marriage he asked, “Can you marry your sister, or is it illegal?” He has two step sisters and I was a little curious if he had developed a crush on one of them. He gets along perfectly with the younger of the two who is the same age as him and is always referring to the thirteen year old as ‘the teenager’. Is this childcare?
“No. Brothers and sisters can’t be married. It’s illegal.” I told him calmly. I don’t prod for more information. I find he offers it more freely if I don’t try to coax it out of him. I’m usually quite amused to find that his initial comment has come from a completely different direction from where I had imagined. I’ve learned to keep my comments short and sweet and wait for him to volunteer more information. I usually don’t have to wait very long.
“Well, on the Flintstones when Bam-Bam turns, like, forty-five he marries Pebbles. He married his sister.” I love when my son does this. He will see something on TV or have a conversation at school that confuses him or causes him to wonder and will make a mental note to ask me about it later in the car. It makes for some interesting conversations.
“Pebbles and Bam-Bam aren’t brother and sister, honey. They’re neighbours.” “Ohhhh. So they’re allowed to get married then.” “Yes, they’re allowed.”
We quietly drove on for a few blocks as he thought it over and we arrived at home. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again, my best conversations with my son are in the car. There are no distractions and it is just the two of us. It’s like our little clubhouse for a half an hour twice a day. Do yourself a favour and make the best of this time with your children. Leave the Game Boys at home and stay off your cell phone. Simply take advantage and enjoy the time alone with your children.
About the Author: Sylvia Wells is an Oakville Mom who finds that family time is lacking these days and is always looking for solutions.
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