Grown up stuff

Time to get serious. Just for a second I promise!!  I had a little chat with the Fish the other day on what he wanted to be when he grows up. We have talked about how he could be anything he wanted (except a dinosaur. It was a tough talk but we had to have it. No matter how much he wants it, and how hard he works, he won't be able to grow up to be a dinosaur. He can dress like a dinosaur. He can roar like a dinosaur. But none of that ACTUALLY makes him a Dino!). When he was barely two he said he wanted to be a race car driver and go fast!  Fast forward to age three, and it was a "space rocket driver to the moon" or a policeman. He wasn't sure yet. He settled on a space policeman. Makes perfect sense! At age four he decided he would be a fighter fighter <A fire fighter but it was too cute to correct him>. 

At breakfast one morning, he decided that he wanted to open a restaurant. This was new! So of course we start asking him questions about it.  He has a business plan already worked out. He clearly has given the idea a lot of thought!!  (Or he takes after his Mommy and makes it up as he goes along! It works!)

The restaurant is called The Fish. He and Puppy will hand out the menus.  They're picture menus with no words.  This way if someone can't read, they can still order. He will serve salad, spaghetti and meatballs, fish burgers, hot dogs, and ice cream with chocolate syrup and a cherry.   He said the restaurant will be in our camper so we can move it around. Daddy is going to do the cooking, except for the meatballs. Mommy will make the meatballs. 

I asked him if The Fish was really expensive and he looked shocked!  NO!! You don't need money to eat here!!  (Okay so maybe it's not the most profitable business model.) He sweetly explained that if you had to pay for the food, some people might not eat. <this is where I started to tear up>   He doesn't need any more money and if you are hungry you just needed to come and order and he and Puppy will serve you what you wanted. 

In my over active, over analyzing everything mind here is what I came up with.  When he grows up he wants to run a food truck where people that may not have enough money to feed themselves, can come and get a good meal served by a cute little redhead and his stuffed animal Puppy. 

Simple as that. 

I'll keep you posted on progress of "The Fish". Who knows what he will turn out to be!! Maybe he will be a top chef, humanitarian, entrepreneur, philanthropist.

Whatever he chooses, I pray it will be something that makes him happy, and makes a difference in people's lives. And that he stays tender hearted, sweet and continues to care about people that have less than he is fortunate enough to have.

When I was little I wanted to be a singer, actress, dancer, teacher, mail woman, boss lady, mommy... Not to brag or anything, but my dreams were on point! By day I fullfill my boss(y) lady status at my day job. And a mail woman with all the things I currier from office to office during my commute. I act and perform in the role of a successful working Momma that has it all together. Except for when I don't!   I do a mean version of Taylor Swift's Never Grow Up and Dumbo's Baby Mine every night that doesn't leave a dry eye in the room! I twist and twirl all over the kitchen with three of the best dance partners anywhere! I have little eyes that watch and learn from my every word and movement. I became everything I ever wanted to be when I grew up!! 

So Fish, you can be anything and EVERYTHING you want to be!!  (If you are positive it has to be a dinosaur, I'll love you anyway!!)

I was addicted to the Hokey Pokey...

But I turned myself around!  Corny right? My big Fish thought it was hilarious!!

The things I say or do on a daily basis to get giggles from my Lil Mermaid and Big Fish! It's addicting!  I'll do almost anything (Who am I kidding???) ANYTHING to see them smile. But to hear that rapid, high pitch, giggle? There isn't another sound on Earth that's better! Opening a Coke and hearing that "sppssss"? Nope! Ripping the tape off Amazon packages? Not even close! Popping gigantic bubble wrap? A close second! 

I think my big Fish has figured out that making people laugh is the perfect way to make them feel better.  This kid has the best comedic timing and it's 100% natural!  He doesn't have to try or work at it. He can tell the worst jokes you have ever heard, and watching the animation in his face and the suspense before the punchline will have tears rolling down your face and leave you clutching your side!!  He's 5!  Five! 

At dinner the other night he asked his Daddy if he knew anything about the Hokey Pokey, we were waiting for the joke.  This was going to be good. Daddy told him that he knew ALL about the Hokey Pokey and that it was a song about Squirrels. (The Fish discovered Ray Stevens and absolutely can't handle "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival". <It's his Favorite song EVER! And he sings every word. I promise I'll get a good video of this soon! It's pretty much the best thing you'll ever hear! Especially when he gets berserk confused with dessert!> Anyway, since that moment, his Daddy constantly inserts squirrels into any topic just to get a giggle. Big Fish says his Daddy loves telling squirrel jokes and he thinks it's hilarious!) Back to the story, the look on his little face! You would have thought he had told him that the Mommy and Daddy were the Easter Bunny!  It was that absurd!  This was no joke! He stood up in his chair, and whispered very calmly, "it is not about squirrels Daddy. You don't know. It is a dance, and it's about life."

This is the moment things went berserk! Realizing he had an opportunity to get the Fish riled up, he repeated, "It's a song about Disney World and Squirrels!" The Fish went ballistic! He put his fist in the air and started shaking it at his Daddy! (I promise you, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!) He was getting so upset! "It is not, it is all about Life! Life, Daddy! It's all about Life!" 

At this point I lost it!!  I was laughing so hard I couldn't even see straight. The more Daddy said squirrel, the more passionate the Fish was getting! "You don't ever say that! This is not one of your squirrel jokes! It's all about life Daddy!  LIFE!" I finally got my phone out and caught the tale end. It went on for fifteen minutes! The argument had run its course. I sided with the Fish on this one. 

Later that night, the more I thought about the dinner discussion, the more I realized that my 5 year old already has it all figured out!  Let me break it down for you!  Stay with me now, your mind is about to be blown! You put something in, to the world, if you will. Then you get something back out. It's cause and effect. You get what you give, right? Then there are days when you have to shake it up. Things just aren't going as planned. Somethings gotta give! So, you shake it all around, you change directions. You turn around, and you start over. You try again!  YOU DON'T GIVE UP! THAT IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!! He was right!!!  The Hokey Pokey really is ALL about LIFE!  

Inspiring right??? This kid knows what's up!  He has figured out in 5 years, what it takes most a lifetime. If ever! 

He may be the next big thing. The new motivational speaker! He is going to get out of his van, that he lives in down by the river, pull his pants up, and explain how it all works! (If you don't catch this pop culture reference, we can no longer be friends, and I'm going to need you to stay 15 steps away at all times!)

And so, I will leave you to ponder your life choices...