Out of the Mouths of Babes

Lately I have been reminded of why I never watch the news. Ignorance really is bliss, as far as my mental health is concerned.

I’ve been particularly disheartened by our inability to see things from the other side’s perspective. And I admit, it’s not easy for me to do, either. So I decided to try to see things from a fresh perspective by asking my eight year old niece about some of the fundamental questions that underlie the latest headlines. Here are the highlights from our interview:

Me: What is truth?

Sadie: Being honest.

Me: But what about when both people see the same thing but have different stories about it? What’s the truth then?

Sadie: Well, neither side is lying. I guess you could get another person who also watched and they could say what the truth is.

Me: What are you thankful for?

Sadie: Everything.

Me: Be specific.

Sadie: Leaves, hands, feet, legs, and pumpkins. (We were eating pumpkin waffles at the time. I have no idea why she said the other stuff.)

Me: What can we do to help people get along?

Sadie: Let’s say that I have a friend but my other friend doesn’t like her. I can tell my other friend that I’m going to play with this new person, and you can play with her, too, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Me: What do you do when someone breaks the rules?

Sadie: Make them pay a fine.

Me: What if they break the rules again?

Sadie. Make them pay a bigger fine. And if they break them again make them pay an even bigger fine and put them in jail.

Me: How long should they be in jail?

Sadie: 10 years. Unless they do something really, really bad, like shoot the President. Then they should be in jail for life, because the President is the one who makes the rules.

Me: What are your strengths?

Sadie: Running and jumping.

Me: What are your weaknesses?

Sadie: Throwing and catching.

Me: If there were one new skill you could learn how to do, what would it be?

Sadie: To play basketball and football so that I won’t be scared of the ball. (Later that night she asked her mom if she could practice playing football outside in the dark.)

Me: Can you show me how to run like a girl? (See #LikeAGirl video.)

Sadie: OK…but it’s just running like anybody else.

Sounds like a girl who is ready to watch the UVA vs. Tech game on Friday! Go Hoos!