We have a new rule in our house. The rule is no TV after school Monday through Thursday, except possibly the grown-ups can watch stuff after the kids go to bed. Great rule, don’t you think? I’m moving toward losing that grown-up caveat, but it’s going to take some convincing. This week has been the first week with this rule in place, and surprisingly, there have been no serious injuries. It’s possible that yesterday this rule contributed to one of the most interesting conversations I’ve had with my kids a long time. It seems like when we keep the tv off, we all think more. Neil wasn’t with us for dinner, so it was just the three of us in our kitchen munching away when we got on some relatively weighty topics. Remember, Hallie is 9, and Jonathan is 4 so we often have very different levels of discussions going. I remember their questions far better than I remember my answers, but I’ll try to re-create the flow of the conversation:

J: Mommy, what does it mean when people die?
Me: [something about bodies not working anymore...something about hearts & brains.... ]
J: But what makes someone die?
Me: [something about sickness, bodies wearing out...]
J: But sometimes people get stabbed or shot with a gun, right?
Me: (!!!!!!!) [yes, there are people who have hurt other people so badly that they die....something about God telling us not to do this...something about it being a very serious thing, and that's why we don't like to joke about 'killing' each other...)
J: Who thought of doing that the first time?
Me: (......silence......)[well, I guess it would be the devil that did that the first time]
J: Who’s the devil?
H: (enter educated sister) He was one of God’s angels that wanted to be in charge. And now he hates God, and he messes with people. (pause) I wish I could just tell him to go away. He’s so stupid.
(pause)

J: Can we hurt the devil?
Me: [something about not letting him mess with us or the people we love]
J: Would it be wrong to kill him?
Me: (…..silence……) That’s a good question.
(pause)

H: Mom, can the devil hear us?
Me: yes, I think so. But he can’t read our minds.
H: Good because I want him to know that I think he’s stupid.
(pause)

H: I wish I was God
Me: Why?
H: Because it would be so cool to create stuff.
Me: (seizing teachable moment) [something about what if you created the most amazing creature you'd ever seen and then it decided it didn't love you... ]
(pause)

(many bites of mac & cheese later)
H: Mom, do you think God regrets creating the devil?
Me: (…..silence……) That’s a very good question.
H: I think I’ll ask God that. I mean, when I get to heaven.

Anybody want dessert?