Conversations with preschoolers can be fun. They come up with interesting thoughts, sometimes silly, but often humorous and enlightening. My 4-year-old daughter is a talker. She loves to ask about the world and has many ideas she shares with us – a lot. This makes for very entertaining drives to preschool in the morning.

This morning, I decided to ask my baby girl a few questions about Thanksgiving. I wanted to expand on what they’ve been learning in school and reinforce the overall message of Thanksgiving. Here was our conversation.

What are you thankful for?

In the order she responded:

• my family
• food
• toys
• clothes
• stuffed animals

Me: Aren’t stuffed animals toys?
Baby Girl: Yes!
Me: So, didn’t you already say toys?
Baby Girl: But…they’re animals!
Me: Oh, ok…so it’s different?
Baby Girl: Yeah.

What is Thanksgiving all about?

Thanksgiving is about love, hugs, kisses, and being thankful. Oh, and food.

How do we celebrate Thanksgiving?

We sit around a big dinner table and hold hands, close our eyes and say a prayer.

What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving?

Hmmm…the turkey. The crispy part.

Me: The crispy part of the turkey?
Baby Girl: Yes!

I’d like to point out that she’s never eaten the crispy part of the turkey. Ever. I’ll be lucky if she actually eats turkey at all this year.

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving – full of love, hugs, kisses…and crispy turkey!

“Where are we going mami?”

“Today’s a work day baby, so we have to get dressed so you can go to abuela’s house. Daddy has to go to work. Mommy too.”

“Why?”

“Why do we have to work? Well, so we can get money so we can buy food. And clothes.”

“So you can take care of me!”

“Yes, that’s right. So that we can take care of you.”

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That is the conversation baby girl and I had at 6 am yesterday morning. Too early for anything more than a grumble from me, yet there we were discussing why we must work.

I was so proud of her, though.

She did not say “so you can buy me toys!” or something similar. Instead, she just wants to be cared for.

I love the simplicity of it all. Her mind can be so complex at times, yet also so simple in the most beautiful way.

I love that little girl.

This morning, as I’m getting baby girl dressed, this is the conversation we had:

Where are we going, mami?

Well, mami and daddy are going to work, so you’re going to abuela’s house.

I don’t want to go to abuela’s house!

Why not?

I’m going to work…to get some money.

And, why do you need money?

To go shopping.

And what do you need to buy when you go shopping?

Turkey!

So, to recap…

My daughter needs to go to work so she can get money so she can go shopping and buy turkey.

Image credit: Bree R