A Small Observation

The other day I needed to go out to the car to grab something. As I headed for the door, Ella stopped me and we had this conversation:

Ella: Dad, you going to eBay?
Me: No, honey. I'm just going to the car.
Ella: Ella go to eBay?
No: No honey. I'm just going to the car. I'll be right back.
Ella: oh, no eBay?
Me: No Bear. I'm just going to the car.
Ella: ok...ummm...I wanna...umm...hambuger....and umm...some milk and...umm
Me: Honey, I'm not going to the store. Just to the car.
Ella: Ok. Love you dad
Me: (laugh) Love you too Ella bear.

As I walked to the car and back, I thought about this little conversation. It was funny because it gave me a little window into my funny little girl's mind. More importantly, it reminded me that my actions--whether intended or not--are being monitored at all times.

From that conversation, I learned that my daughter is aware that when I leave, most of the time it's to go to where I work, eBay. I know she doesn't understand why I go to eBay, but she does understand that when I leave her, it's a good chance that eBay's where I'm going. I can also tell that she thinks eBay's somewhere I want to be. She always wants to come with me to eBay. She's come inside a couple times and loves it even though all she's ever done is sit with me at my desk while I grab a couple things.

I also learned that she thinks if I'm not going to eBay, the next most likely place is to get food. For those who might have been confused by what she was saying on the conversation above, let me explain. She was putting in an order. Like I said in the previous post, Shay and I love food. Obviously, by Ella's observation, I go out to get food a lot--whether it be groceries or fast food. Just like when I ask Shalie if she wants anything while I'm out, Ella puts in her order. If I'm not going to eBay, it must be to get food. That's got to be a statistic somewhere at some fat camp: If going to get food is in your top 2 reasons for leaving your house, you're probably fat.

While it may seem like a pretty simple conversation, it really opened my eyes to what those 2 beautiful, little eyes see everyday. It also made me want to be better. While she may not have all the "whys," she does have a great grasp of the "whats." Ella sees me leave everyday and she assumes that where I go is a good place. A place where people want to be. A place where she wants to be. She also assumes that if I'm not going to that place, that I'm going to go get food for our family; to provide for them. Ella assumes that I'm only in good places and doing good things. I'm productive. I'm on the right path. I'm taking advantage of life.

It made me ask myself, " do I live up to those assumptions?"

All I could think of was, "you better."

Must be the universe talking to the Ripley's again. Leave it to a 2 year old to give you a better perspective on yourself. Children are like super clean, empty glasses, vacant of substance but so clean and innocent that all you can see is your own reflection. Life's full of irony.

Anyway, I was comforted by one thing. Then end of the conversation did bear one assumption that I can definitely admit to immediately:

Ella: Ok. Love you Dad

(Laugh)

Love you too Ella bear.