I love grade-school aged children. They’re so full of potential, and it’s great to see them following through their own train of thought, rather than just reflecting your words/ideas back to you. The conversations can get a little longish, but as any parent will tell you… it’s all good.

During the car ride home from school this afternoon:

Syd- Mommy, what’s your favorite shape?
Me- Hmmm, good question. I’m not sure, maybe a triangle?
Syd- My favorite shape is a circle.
Me- That’s a great shape…
Syd- Yeah, I like it because you can make so many things. You can make a face with a circle. You can make a ball with a rubber circle. You can make a diamond with a circle, but only when it’s one of the circle shaped diamonds. You can make glasses with two circles next to each other. You can make buttons with little circles. You can make light bulbs with breakable circles. You can make ponytail holders with stretchy circles. You can make the sun with a circle with hydrogen and helium in the middle. You can make meatballs with meat circles. You can make the top of a spoon with silver circles…

During dinner 45 minutes later:

… with a circle. You can make clocks with circles with lines and numbers and arrows on them. You can make a bowl with a plastic circle, but you have to be careful it doesn’t melt in the microwave. You can make a snowman with three snow circles or a snow family with a mommy, daddy and two sisters with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12… 12 snow circles. You can make a necklace with bead circles or even just pretty chain circles. You can make…

During her bath an hour after that:

… with shiny circles. You can make a collar for a dog with rope circles. You can make round soap with soap circles, but only the special round soaps, not the kind that come in the box. You can make toilet paper with fluffy charmin circles. You can make a drain with pipe circles. You can make the top of a toothpaste tube with tiny plastic circles. You can make a shower… the part when the water comes out… with a circle with other little circles with holes inside them…

As we’re tucking her into bed for the night:

… (yawning) there are even pillows you can make with pillow circles.