So we are having a great discussion yesterday evening between activities.  I was trying something new and had double-booked us for two nights this month – yeah, I know, what was I thinking? More on that later - so we were driving from swimming lessons in one town to religious classes in another.

As we were zipping along, we were discussing what time it was, how far we had left to go, what time the classes began and what would be happening that evening in class.  Little Cowgirl pipes up from the back seat of the minivan, “Mom, where are we?”

So I answer “You see that big building there?  That is the back of the grocery store where we shop.”

Pause.

“No, mommy,” she explains in a patient voice, “I mean where ARE we?”

Um.

“Well,” I take another stab, “Do you mean which town, because we were in *YMCAville and now we are on the edge of *Churchtown.”

*Names changed to protect identities.

Big SIGH.

“Mommy, you are not listening to my words,” she continues in a calm, parentesque tone. “Don’t do any talking this time, just listening, because you are not answering my question so be sure to listen to all of my words.”

Insert drum kit noises followed by cymbal crash.

“Honey, I am listening very carefully to your words.  I think I need you to use different words this time so I understand better what kind of answer you want.  Ask me about the street name, which direction we are pointing, where we are headed or how long it will take.  Use new words in your question to help give me clues as to what kind of details you want in the answer.”

Sounds logical.

“I will Mommy.  Listen veeeerrrrry closely to each of my words.”

Smiling to myself.

“Okay, I’m all ears.”

-Dramatic Pause-

“  WHERE                         ARE                                    WE    ?”

You know how you talk when someone is hard of hearing or speaks a different language and suddenly you are talking loud and slow?  That’s what she was doing.

The boys laughed so hard, I thought we’d have urine on the booster seats.  Cowgirl laughed too even though I know she may have been a bit embarrassed and certainly was still frustrated.  My Farmer is still waiting for the end of the story because we have no idea what she meant and it remains unclear.  I figure next time I’ll start with Earth and work my way down to the neighborhood we are in and it will be close enough.