Snippets from Avi and Noah, referred to here as “FYO” (five year old):
* * *
FYO: “Hey, you see this television? It used to be in here.” (FYO points to a cardboard box. I notice that the box, synchronistically, says “Black Crystal” in its product description.)
Me: “This is pretty cool. You see this says “Crystal”. That’s my name. And it says “Black Crystal”, which is even more awesome, because I’m Black. I am a Black Crystal!”
FYO: (pause) “Actually . . . I think you’re brown?” He raises his eyebrow and shrugs.
Me: “Yes, this is true–”
FYO: “But, there are people who are actually black.” I furrow my brow, wondering what he means by that, but I let it slide.
Me: “What about you?” I take his tiny hand. “I can’t tell what color you are. Maybe peach?”
FYO: “Actually, I’m Jewish.”
Me: “Jewish isn’t a color.”
FYO: “I know.”
* * *
FYO: “Show me your breasts!”
Me: “No.”
(a few minutes later)
FYO: “Your breath smells really bad!”
Me: “I know. I have dragon breath.”
* * *
Me: “This is magic.” (referring to my iPad)
FYO: “You are magic!”
* * *
Me: Throw me a cracker.
(FYO throws cracker. Cracker falls on the ground.)
FYO: “Maybe that wasn’t a good idea.”
* * *
FYO: “I don’t want people to see me like this!!” (said to his mother at the beach when she pulled off his pants so he could change into his swim trunks)
* * *
Me: “Look at the ducks. Aren’t they cute? The ducks are like your brothers. Be nice to them. Love them.”
FYO: “Yeah they are cute, but I don’t have that many brothers.”
Aware of Awareness 