Conversations With My Son: The Lost Dog Edition

Posted by Chris on Mar 3, 2010 in Blog, Fatherhood | 6 comments

There was a lost dog in our neighboord because someone stuck a flyer on our door. I sometimes forgot what’s common knowledge to me isn’t common knowledge to my son (a 4 year old). This is the “Lost Dog” conversations:

Him: Hey, there is a paper on our door.

Me:  Yea I know, somebody lost a dog.

Him: Can we have it?

Me: No, it’s not our to keep. Whoever owned the dog before is looking for it and they want it back.

Him: (Blank Stare)….Ummm ok, well read what it says on paper.

Me: Lost Dog (Picture On Paper) Please Call (Number Here) if you see him.

Him: Call the number

Me: No, no you can’t just call the people you have to have seen the dog.

Him: Oh

…5 minutes later…

Him: I saw the dog

Me: (Puzzled Look) You did? Where at?

Him: On T.V.!

Me: No, not just any dog. You have to see the specific dog that was on the paper.

Him: Oh, well can we go look for him.

Me: (Blank Stare) Well see we don’t have to go look for him. If we just happen to see him then we call.

Him: But why can’t we go look for him.

Me: (Silence)

Him: (Waiting For Answer)

Me: Well because we don’t even know where to start. Besides it’s a little cold outside.

Him: Can’t we drive around the neighborhood?

Me: (Shrug) Technically yea, but……

At this point I feel defeated but luckily it’s start to rain and I tell him that we can’t go right now because of the rain. He understand and goes back to watching cartoons.

…At 9:00 pm….

Him: It’s not raining anymore

Me: Yes I know but it’s too late to go look for the dog. It’s dark outside.

Him: Doesn’t your car have lights?

Me: Yea…I mean…Well headlights but….Look that’s not the point. I’ll make a deal with you. After school, we’ll drive around and look for the dog together, Ok?

Him: Ok, well call the people.

Me: What people?

Him: The dog people from paper

Me: No, you don’t call the people and tell them your looking for the dog, you only call them if you find the dog.

Him: Oh, what’s that number again? I want to write it down…

Will we ever find the poor dog? Will he call the owners to notify them of our serach party? Will I ever stop hearing about the dog?

Tune in next time…