The Origin of Trees

Conversation at dinner tonight with India went like this.

India: “Mum, you know I used to believe in God, but not anymore—for a reason.”

Me:  “Oh? And what reason is that?”

I:  “Well, you know that story about how God made the trees?”

M:  (wondering what we are getting into) “Yesss…”

I: “Well, God didn’t MAKE the trees, everyone knows they are planted.”

M: “hmmmmm, well where do you think the seeds came from?”

I:  “Duh mum, a factory.”

M:  “Where did the factory come from”

I:  “People.  They built it of course.”

M:  “K, where did the people come from?”

I:  “Apes.  Everyone knows that mum.  duhhh.”  (yes she says duh to me A LOT)

M:  “Well, India, where do Apes live?”

I:  “In the trees mum!”

M:  “Remind me again please, where do the trees come from?”

I:  “They are planted!  And the seeds come from a factory.  That means that God couldn’t have MADE them, why would he ever work in a factory anyway?”

M:  “Cool, now all my questions are finally answered…”

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I have to say that I do love the age gaps between my 3 children.  I often feel like I am peeking in on three different little worlds.  Over the span of a 25-minute dinner conversation not only did I contemplate the Universe and God with a precocious six-year old girl, I also pondered the AIDS Epidemic in Africa with a wise 9 year old boy who simultaneously discussed which combination of skinny jeans, Vans and leather jacket had the highest “hot” quotient.  And all the while we revelled in the determination of a chubby food-lovin’ 1 year old to finally spear his macaroni on an actual fork for the first time!  We are hardly ever on the same page but it is definitely an entertaining journey to try to meet in the middle of the road sometimes.