It's not me, it's my tummy.

Emma: Mommy, I've noticed that always when I'm at the apartment, my tummy hurts, but when I leave the apartment, it doesn't. It's kind of mysterious.

Me: Really? Can you think of anything at the apartment that might make your tummy feel that way?

Emma: I've thought about it and I think it's that my tummy thinks that Gracie (0ur sheepdog) might die.

Me: Aah. Emma you know we've talked about this (she has been a bit obsessed about Gracie getting old ...) and Gracie is very healthy and will be with us for many years.

Emma: I know that. I know it but my tummy doesn't seem to. I don't think she's going to die, but I think my tummy thinks that. Not me.

Me: Okay. Well, maybe we need to work on telling the tummy that she can relax, cause Gracie is healthy and as silly as always. No worries.

Emma: I'll work on that.

the budding music critic

Driving in the car seems to elicit the best insights from most of us. On our recent trip to Ft Collins to visit family, we heard Zac Efron (High School Musical 2) song "Bet on it."

Me: I really like this song. What do you think?

Emma: I do too!!

A few moments of singing along....

Emma: I really like the DRAMA of it!

Me: Oh... tell me more about that...

Emma: You know, the drama of it... there's anger. The girl left and he's angry and no one understands.

Me: I see...

I'm waiting for the day that I can come up with something equal in depth to some of these comments... until then I keep learning.