Kids and Marriage

I wanted to share more stories based on this post and subsequent comments. I love to see kids' views on marriage.

Years ago, I was on the phone when K came RUNNING down the stairs crying (which she rarely does) and very upset, "MOMMY! Daddy says I can't marry M!" My friend on the phone says, "I better go." Yep. So we talked about how brothers and sisters don't marry and how they can still love each other very much. I told her how I had wanted to marry my brother when I was a little girl--it's normal to think that as a kid, etc. She was okay for a while and then got really upset and said, "Well now who am I going to marry?! I can't marry M. Daddy's already married to you. All the good ones are taken!"

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Another time soon after that, while reading Little Women as a family, I worried about getting to the part about Beth. Sure, that part was difficult. But who expected the part about Meg to be so hard? Yes, Meg. When Meg gets married. Awful stuff apparently. K, unamused, asked why Meg had to move away from Marmee's house.

"Well, Honey, because she got married."

"Do you have to move out when you get married?"

"Well, You don't have to, but most people do."

"Well, when I get married, I'm staying here."

"What about your husband?"

"Oh, I'll give him my number so he can call me and he can visit."

Gotta love her spunk.

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In another instance, K was sharing with us about her career aspirations--author, restaurateur, vet, the list goes on and on. She considers that it's a lot to juggle so she usually lays out a schedule. Monday, write. Tuesday, run the restaurant. Wednesday, help sick animals. And so forth. She talks about her husband and children as well. We ask what he's going to do. She says, "Oh he can watch the kids while I run the restaurant!" I love our little feminist. Presumably, he can watch the kids since, you know, he'll have her phone number.

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So M is at the age where he wants to marry K, often asking, "Why can't I marry K?" "Because she's your sister." "But I love her!" and is none too amused about how sisters and brothers don't marry (hence his comment in that earlier-referenced post). And that is why he tells her that he's going to marry her back! I love our kids and seeing how their minds work.