Conversations with My Sons, Part I

I am the father of the kids you see in this blog. I am making a guest appearance here to help raise money for the venerable 826 Boston.  Here I will post a series of interviews with my boys. It turns out kids don't always say the darndest things. Sometimes they can prattle on in the most mundane ways. Just when you can't take it anymore they say something profound, whether they know it or not. Sometimes you have to listen hard to hear it. But it happens, not necessarily here in these pages, but it happens. And you decide you made the right decision nine and six years ago. 

Abraham, 9, is a third grader at a school in  Roxbury, Mass. Abraham likes hockey and reading. He is a standardized test enthusiast, and we couldn't be prouder.

Question: Imagine you were just elected Mayor of Boston. What would your first policy initiative be?

Abraham: I would try to make taking recess away banned.

Q: Anything else?

Abe: No

Q: If you injured your leg and were unable to be a professional hockey player in the NHL, what would you be instead?

Abe: I'd be a writer.

Q: What kind of writer?

Abe: Folktale

Q: What are folktales?

Abe: It's like when there is a lesson in it. And two animals talk. It's how something came to be.

Q: Would you rather be able to fly, or be invisible?

Abe: I'd like to fly.

Q: Why?

Abe: Because people can see you but when you don't want people to see you, you can just fly above and it's quicker than running or walking.

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Angelo, 6, is a first grader  in Roxbury, Mass. Angelo enjoys LEGOs and drawing and playing hockey. We're all pretty sure he doesn't experience physical pain the way the rest of us do. And we couldn't be prouder.


Question: Imagine you were just elected Mayor of Boston. What would your first policy initiative be?

Angelo: No smoking.

Q: Why?

Ange: Because it's bad for people. And I don't want people to waste their money on dentists and doctors. So no smoking.

Q: If you injured your leg and were unable to be a professional hockey player in the NHL, what would you be instead?

Ange: A sledge hockey player.

Q: Let's say you couldn't be a sledge hockey player. What else would you be when you grow up?

Ange: No. Just hockey or sledge hockey.

Q: Would you rather be able to fly, or be invisible?

Ange: Invisible.

Q: Why?

Ange: Because when I'm playing hockey no one could see me. They would have to follow the puck. They wouldn't know how fat my body was or how skinny my body was or if my face is messed up. I would go like this! And this! And ooh I score!

Q: OK, that's all.

Ange: And anything that comes on me or that I touch becomes invisible. They can't see the stick and the puck unless they accidently hit it. Bye bye.