My five-year-old daughter is fascinated with cooking shows. Cupcake Wars, Iron Chef, Chopped, Paula Deen—if it involves food, she’s a fan. So the other day, while exploring risotto on Everyday Italian with lovely chef hostess Giada De Laurentiis, our inquisitive preschooler popped this question.
“Dad, what is that line?”
“What do you mean, sweetheart? What line?” My unassuming husband walked straight into the trap.
“You know, that line,” she said, “on the lady’s chest.”
Ohhhh! Heaven help us. Our daughter was clearly referring to the busty Food Network star’s cleavage, which, if you ask me, begs more attention than her recipes.
“Well, that’s. . . part of her boobies,” my husband replied straight on. God bless him. He flipped the channel to Nick, Jr.
Don’t you love a curious child? Today my daughter is asking about cleavage; tomorrow I imagine she’ll want to know how babies are made. I’m not ready for that one yet.
There are deeper questions, of course—about faith and heaven and death—that we have to face through our children’s eyes. As parents we have a tremendous opportunity to shape their reality with our answers.
Why can’t I see God?
Are angels in my room right now?
When will I go to heaven?
Why did your friend’s husband die?
Do all people die, Momma?
Sometimes these questions make my eyes sting. I want to scoop my daughter up and squeeze her, protect her, preserve her innocence, inhale her childlike faith. And I realize I cannot do this alone. I need to stay ever close to Jesus in order to guide my children to where he stands.
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15).
Perhaps before I attempt to tackle my daughter’s questions, I need to answer a few of my own.
Have I placed the Lord in charge of my heart today?
Am I studying his Word and filling my internal reference desk with truth?
Am I praying for wisdom to teach and encourage my girls?
Am I respecting my child’s inquiry, not brushing it off or laughing at it?
Am I speaking gently?
And why in the world are we allowing our five-year-old to watch Everyday Italian?
“No more Giada,” I said, shooting my husband a raised-eyebrow scolding. From now on, if this family wants risotto, I’ll cook it myself—in a turtleneck, thankyouverymuch.
If this post encouraged you, please feel free to pass it on. You might also like Daddy Can Fix It, Time for a Change, and No Eat Play-Doh.
Erica {let why lead} says
April 23, 2012 at 3:09 pmHaha, turtlenecks all the way!!
This post definitely made me ask those same questions of myself. I love the image of “filling my internal reference desk.” I think I need to do a little more “filling” during naptime today. Thank you, as usual!
Ashley Ditto says
April 23, 2012 at 5:59 pmI have a lot of those types of questions already from my little girl! I love your questions at the end! Wonderful post!
Katie says
April 23, 2012 at 8:23 pmThanks for stopping by my blog today! I am so glad I found yours. What a great place of encouragement! And eek… I am so not ready to talk to my kids about cleavage… or other things! How do they get so big so fast!?
Tracy says
April 25, 2012 at 1:00 amMy boys haven’t started with those hard questions yet, but I know the time is coming! I love the questions you listed & will definitely bookmark this post. (And how funny that my 4 year old is fascinated with cooking shows too :)…we like Melissa D’Arabians 10 dollar dinners — she is sweet and has 4 young daughters…maybe a better fit than Giada!) Thanks for visiting followinghisleadtoday.com — so glad you stopped by!
Traci Michele says
April 25, 2012 at 12:57 pmI can so relate! Those questions…. it prompts us as parents to ask, is this really what we should be doing? Wow, Lord… I need your wisdom. We need it so desperately as parents… to prepare our hearts to give an answer. Great great post!
Come check out my list of 100 Smoothies! Comment if you’d like on which one is you favorite!
Love, Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations http://www.ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/2012/04/100-smoothie-recipes.html
My Life as a Mom says
April 25, 2012 at 4:05 pmThe questions just keep coming, don’t they? This is a great post. It’s important that we be ready for whatever questions our kids have. It seems innocence lasts for such a short time…Thanks for this!
Richella says
April 26, 2012 at 2:09 pmSo funny–“What’s that line?” We love Giada, but honestly sometimes I think the show is all about her bustline!
Thank you for answering your children’s questions with honesty and grace–and inspiring us to do the same!
Cara Hembd says
April 26, 2012 at 7:43 pmWonderful post and I think sometimes we best prepare for spiritual questions by asking our Heavenly Father fist and listing for his reply in the Word. Thanks for the encouragement.
Charissa Steyn says
April 27, 2012 at 2:00 pmoh gosh! what a funny question to ask!