A Real Can of Worms

My kids are smart.  And I don't mean that in a my-kids'-behavior-is-not-desirable-so-I-have-to-try-to-make-up-for-it-somehow kind of way.  I really mean it... they are smart.

Graham's early start with reading- Feb 2010

Graham is a reading and counting whiz.  He seems to be my little overachiever; already striving to impress me with each new scholastic conquest.  Cael, on the other hand, is a social vulture.  I say vulture rather than butterfly because he would not be satisfied to flutter about, chatting and interacting with multiple acquaintances.  Rather, Cael prefers to socially anihilate his friends with his in-your-face attitude and nonstop appetite for "play".  But one thing Cael isn't excited about-- just can't get drawn into-- is reading.

"Cael, do you want to read that Curious George book with me?  Or would you like to try to read your "Bob" books all by yourself?"

"No."

"Why not?  Don't you want to read?" 

"You can read it later."

"But wouldn't you like to read yourself, like a big boy?"

"No."

Enter Graham, eight books in hand and one trailing behind him from a piece of blanket string he'd unwoven in record time.

"See, Graham wants to read.  He's such a bookworm."

Ah, there it was.  I recognized the look of interest and focus as Cael finally met my eyes. 

"What did you call Graham?"  He asked with a smile.

"A bookworm.  Someone who really likes to read books." 

"That's funny, Mommy."

"Don't you want to be a bookworm?"

I kinda figured the answer was "no", but I was surprised by the incredibly ridiculous but logical process he used to formulate his answer. 

"No.  Graham really likes books, so he is a bookworm.  I really like trains, so I guess I'm a train-worm."

"Oh really... a trainworm?"

"Yep.  And I'm a baseball-worm.  And a Play-Doh-worm."

Creepy image.

"Are you a bookworm, Mommy?"

"I do really like to read, so I guess so." 

"And you really like to cook, so you're a food-worm!"

"That sounds kind of yucky, but you're right."

"We're all worms!"

"You're funny, Cael." 

"You know what I think is funny?"

Not really, because I'm afraid I already know.

"What is that?" 

"Poop!  I guess I'm a poop-worm!" 

And I'm calling an exterminator.