Priceless

My six year old, in a few days will be seven, is a challenge. One thing he has done since he was about four is pick fights with me. It used to bug the socks off me, but since he's gotten older and understands what he is doing, I can simply say, "Don't pick a fight with me, that isn't nice" and he gets it.

Here is an example from earlier this week. On Monday, I was beyond miserably sick. I still am, but that was when it hurt to be vertical. I am driving him to school. Here is how that went:

JM: Mom, will anything make you feel better?
Me: Honey, I feel so bad, I don't think anything can make me feel better.

JM: Would a hug make you feel better?
Me: Yes, a hug always makes anyone feel better. (Do you see where this is going?)

JM: But Mom, you just said.....
Me: JM, don't pick a fight with me, that isn't nice to do, especially when I am so sick.

What I think is interesting when he does this is his reasoning skills. The excluding of an idea, and the idea that something is "always", etc. I admire that, I just wish he could figure out another way to do it.

He also tries to figure out if I know everything. I have explained umpteen times, I know a lot of things, I don't know everything. Here is how one of those conversations went today.

We are going to school, and Radio Disney is playing. He thinks I don't keep track of pop music and I don't know who is cool these days. He hasn't figured out yet that I am the keeper of all useless pop culture information. A song begins to play.

JM: Mom! Who sings this song??!! (He has that challenging look on his face.)

I look him square in the eye through the rear view mirror--
Me: Kelly Clarkson

The look on his face suddenly changed, and it was priceless. He was speechless.