A Little Too Literal!

Haden's entry about his kids' getting the better of him with their logic, Oldie But A Goodie 3 :, reminded me of a story about my son, Andrew.  He was five years old and I was helping him write some words.  We were at the kitchen table, he seated on my right next to the wall.

He had learned to spell and write several small words, so we began making a sentence out of them.  He ever so carefully wrote each word and very proudly showed me when he was done.  I praised and admired the work, then suggested that the words were written a little close together and reminded him that when we finish one word we then leave a space before we write the next word.

He started the sentence again and after writing the first two words I said, "Okay, now move over some before you start writing the next word."  (Poor choice of words, Mom.)  He gave me a funny look, squirmed a little in his chair and then wrote the next word. 

I was a little frustrated that he hadn't seemed to catch on to what I meant.  I mean, he'd written lists of words before and had left spaces between them; I thought a simple reminder was all that was needed.  "Okay, now move over a little."  Again the strange look and the squirming.  Again the next word was right on top of the previous one.  "Andrew," I said, more than a little exasparated, "remember, you have to leave a space before you write the next word.  Move over a little!"

He looked at me, just as exasparated as I, and said, "Mom!  I've moved over as far as I can go!" 

And he had.  He'd scooted over as close to the wall and away from me as it was possible for him to scoot!