Monday, July 07, 2008

"I have an existential map; it has 'You are here' written all over it."

Great parenting moment #167,356:

The boys and I are on our way to a Spiderman birthday party.

Primo asks me, out of the blue, from the backseat, "Mom? Why are we here? I mean, what's the point of living if you're just going to die anyway?"

"Welllll..." I begin slowly, "I believe that we are here to enjoy life. To love the people you're with. To make your little bit of the earth a better place, and maybe have some fun while you're doing that."

Primo looks dubious.

"I'm not sure..." he says.

And I snap, "Well, then, ask your father!"

**************

*Stephen Wright

10 comments:

delta said...

Rock on, baby! Rock on!

Dispaches from the Big Strange said...

I don’t know, but what’s wrong with saying, “There really isn’t a point, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying yourself.” I never understand why people think if there isn’t a point or some higher power watching over us society will just degenerate into Lord of the Flies. I haven’t thought there is a point to life or a higher power for over a decade and it’s never stopped me from doing the right thing. On the other hand… drugs and alcohol occasionally have stopped me but whatever.

Suse said...

Hahahahahahaha.

Love it.

Joke said...

I really think Sesame Street really blew it with their "N is for nihilism" thing.

I'm just saying.

-J.

BabelBabe said...

well, that IS sorta what i said, isnt it - i didnt pull the higher power thing, i let all the responsibility land squarely in his lap - and, um, H's.

Anonymous said...

Hilarious!

Anonymous said...

He is going to be your goth teen. Start picking out piercings you like and telling him he may NEVER get them.

Velma said...

My 5 year old is obsessed with the death of Jesse Helms today (he read the headline over my shoulder) which has led to a BILLION questions about exactly how long Jesse Helms will be dead for... "A year? 10,000 years?" Yargh. I am having a hard time not telling him all sorts of inappropriate-for-kindergarden things today.

Dispaches from the Big Strange said...

Yea... I think most of it landed in H's.

Sarah Louise said...

I can totally see Primo dropping that one on your lap and then not believing your answer. He is such a thinker!!

Love the quote.

xo,

SL