The other morning my three kids were at the breakfast table. We keep a glass container there stocked with spoons. It’s a tradition begun by my mother-in-law (in fact, we use the same container) and is really quite handy. Anyway, an argument ensued over the spoons, which are of assorted styles and sizes. My daughter wanted a particular spoon and the spoons were out of reach. She asked for the “big one.” My son, who had the spoons in front of him, said, “It’s not a big one.” My daughter countered with, “Yes, it is!” My son: “No it isn’t!” Etc. I said to him, “Why don’t you give her what she asked for?” He said, “Because it’s not a big one. I’ll give her a big one.” I said, “But did she ask for a big one, or the one she’s asking for?”
So he gave her the one she was asking for. And said, yet again, “It’s not a big one.”
As usual, this typical, mundane little occurrence in the life of my family caused me to think. And here’s what I thunk:
How much time do we spend arguing over the size of spoons? (Not literally...you know.) How many hard feelings are generated arguing over the size of spoons? Does the size of spoons really matter, when it comes to eating cereal? (Yes, as far as generally matching size of spoon to size of person, i.e. baby spoons vs. table spoons, or other special considerations go. But arguing over spoon size for the sake of arguing over spoon size?)
Now if you’ll excuse me, my cereal’s getting soggy.
