Dinner conversations

We had our first dinner CONVERSATION with the children I believe last night. Paul and Mary have been studying body parts in class and yesterday was the eyes. Now Mary's eyes are currently a grayish color and will lean toward blue or green as the mood warrants. Mine are hazel (light brown/green), Marty's are blue-gray, while Paul, Samuel, and Julia's are such a dark brown that I would label them as black as I cannot distinguish a pupil readily.

My student children came home with papers stating "Paul's eyes are brown" and he signed his name and drew a brown eye. Mary's was "Mary's eyes are green" with her name signed completely backwards (YarM) and her eye drawn huge with a mixture of green and brown flecks. She announced to me that she had blue eyes just like the paper said and was adamant I was wrong when I told her the paper had her with green eyes.

This just couldn't be! She was furious! Why, she had even traced the word "green" with a green marker.

I had prepared Marty ahead of time and he began by initiating the conversation about having a green-eyed daughter. This sent Mary on a blue-streak of talking about her eye color.

And the Paul says . .. "Mom?" "Dad?" "Mary?" "School?" "Blah, blah, blah" with the most mischievous twinkle in his eye and his grin about to explode across his face.

"Oh?" Marty delighted in hearing about school from another perspective. Imagine Mary talking excessively in class!

I changed tactics. I asked Mary about her brother Paul in school. She seemed confused.

"But was Paul naughty in school today?"

Paul gasped and squealed and began to wag his finger. Mary insisted that her brother was well-behaved.

Marty joined in. "Are you sure? Paul - good? Not naughty at all?"

All the children are now laughing and Paul is beaming.

We talked about eye colors and named each person's eye color. Mine stumped Paul totally and he kept looking to different objects that may match mine.

Then he pointed to his skin. "Mom?"

"Ahhh - you have lovely brown skin" I told him. He smiled.

"And what color is Mama's skin?"

"Pasty" Marty chided. Paul looks confused.

We looked at freckles - a new concept to these dark-pigmented children.

And then Marty's tan line from his watch was discussed. How do you explain a tan to a newly-arrived Ethiopian? Paul would hold up all his fingers "Ten?" You looked in his face and saw oblivion.

Samuel joined in more readily when we talked of moods. What does grumpy Mama sound like?

"HUSH!"

Marty added - and grumpy Daddy? Hesitation. He blew his knuckles and rubbed them on his shirt with satisfaction. Paul spoke with authority "Now you stop that!" I laughed.

And Grumpy Samuel? Everyone threw back there head with their mouths wide and screamed in a high pitched voice.

Sleepy Julia? Snores and then cries and then snores (she still will cry out in her sleep frequently through the night).

Our first lively animated conversation at the table that included our boys and not speaking to them or at them! Ahh - the moments of satisfaction that continue to evoke such feelings of utmost peace.