The Flower and The Seed

Today at the grocery store, Ramona, age four, asks me who made all “those seeds.” I told her that no one made them, but that they came from flowers, “You know that.” She was like, yeah, but “where did the flowers come from?“

ME: “The flowers come from the plants that grew from the seeds.”

R: “But where did the seeds that made the flowers come from?”

ME: “From other flowers. Flowers come from seeds and seeds come from flowers, that’s the cycle, Ramona.”

R: "But what about when the flowers were dead? Then where did the seeds come from? Who made them?"

ME: “What do you mean, 'when the flowers were dead?'”

 Realization.

“Oh, you mean before the flowers existed and before the seeds existed? Where did the seeds come from?”

R: “YEEEEESSSS!”

I finally realize we are talking about a chicken and egg sort of concept…but she’s not asking which came first but how it got there in the first place (much more worthwhile conversation). I ponder for a minute. We have never really discussed things like the origin of the world or any concept of God or what's the universe. But I take a leap in the dark.

ME: “I don’t know, I guess God made them.”

R: “Oh, you mean she made the seeds and then dropped them into the earth, put dirt on them and the flowers grew?” She has a big happy smile. I say yes.

Did you catch that wisdom?

"Where do you learn all that stuff?"

At dinner, Ramona (just turned 4, btw) is having a hard time eating because her food is so hot. She takes a large bite from the center of her Quinoa and then makes a face a spits a little out. I tell her about how the edges of the food are usually cooler than the center. She takes a little bite from the edge and then says, "Where do you learn all this stuff?"

Me: What stuff, all the stuff in my life? From everywhere. From my life.

Ramona: I mean all this mom stuff.

Me: What do you mean "mom stuff"?

Ramona: You know, Kids can't play with matches, you got to go to sleep, why you got to stay warm and wear a jacket when its cold.

Me: OH! I just learn that stuff from life. I lived a long time and I know what is dangerous and common sense. Mom's are supposed to help their kids. Some things kids don't like to do but mom's help them learn that there are things you need to do and things that are dangerous. Like when you don't get enough sleep you go crazy and everyone feels crappy. So I help you get a good amount of sleep.

Ramona: But....I go to sleep, so why do I still go crazy?