You’ll Be in The Sky

Kids can be ruthless, and they love to embarrass you in public. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I could listen to kids talk about almost anything. Thankfully, as a dad, that’s basically all I do. I love to hear my kids’ thought process in making decisions, along with their synopsis of what happened in last night's episode of Bluey. Logically, they make no sense, but I still love to give an enthusiastic, “Oh really? No way!”

Kids will say anything at any time. One time, I overheard my four-year-old, Sienna, telling a complete stranger about the time I shut her foot in the door. To be fair, the story was true. I was running outside very quickly to take out the garbage, and to my surprise, Sienna wanted to come. I didn’t know she wanted to come, so as I shut the door, I accidentally hurt her foot. Do you think she gave this stranger that context? Of course not.

The best part about kids is they have zero social awareness. Whether it’s asking the busy cashier at Sprouts about their interest in horses or asking our server if they are a boy or a girl, kids will find a way to embarrass you. But every so often, you’re hit with a comment so funny you have to write it down to remember forever.

One afternoon, Sienna and I were in line at our local boba shop. As we waited, Sienna asked me to pick her up. I declined her request, opting to hold her hand instead, which led to the question, “Am I too heavy for you to carry?”

Parents, you know where I’m going with this. Sometimes, I just don’t want to carry you, especially when you’re four years old and more than capable of standing in a line for three minutes.

I responded, “Nope. I could carry you, but I just don’t need to right now.”

Sienna followed up…

“When I’m five, you won’t be able to hold me.”

“I’ll always be able to hold you,” I said.

“Even when I’m 65?”

“Yup. Always.”

“How old will you be when I’m 65?”

Sienna was curious. She’s a forward thinker, constantly thinking of the future. Not the near future, of course. Declining to go potty five minutes before we walk out the door but then deciding she does have to go potty as we’re walking out the door is too much. Instead, she likes to think decades down the line. To a time when she’s a real adult because to her, 65 seems like an adult age.

I did some quick math.

“When you’re 65, I’ll be 97.”

And without skipping a beat, Sienna looked into my soul and responded.

“You’ll be in the sky.”

Oh.

I paused to process what she said. Did I hear her correctly? The women behind us who were struggling to keep their composure upon hearing Sienna’s comment gave me all the confirmation I needed to know I heard her just right.

I smiled, laughed, and responded, “Yeah, maybe.”

I know when to take a loss. How do you come back from that?

Now, the best part is Sienna says stuff like this on a regular basis. Maybe not as morbid, but almost on a daily basis, Sienna hits me with a one-liner or comeback that I just don’t expect from a four-year-old. She is quick, witty, and far too funny for her age, but in moments like this, it takes the laughter of someone else for me to realize how funny kids can be.

I’d say the coolest part about fatherhood thus far has been watching my kids’ personalities develop over time. There are times I see my wife’s and my influence, and there are times I ask, “Where did that come from?”

But no matter what, I’m grateful to spend my life watching them grow, step into their own, and occasionally be on the receiving end of a punchline I wasn’t expecting. I wouldn’t want it any other way.