C's thoughts

Just this past Sunday, out of the blue, C goes, "Mommy, it's not fair that we eat animals".


I asked him what prompted this thought. I asked him if someone else talked about it to him. He replied, "No, it's just my thoughts".


I told him he has the option of becoming vegetarian. But it's a challenge since he can't have nuts, which is a good source of protein. Of course legumes are also good source of protein as long as it is consumed with a grain to complete the amino acid, so it's not out of the question.  Just then, I had been preparing to give him his "musubi" which is a rice ball with nori seaweed wrapped around it. It included salmon in the middle.  I announced to him, "Well, this outside nori is from a vegetable, and rice is also from a plant, but the salmon inside of here is an animal."  He replied, "Yeah, I'm OK with eating fish, they're mean, because they always get away from me when I go fishing. And salmon is soooo yummy!". LOL! It's funny how he thinks.


Another afternoon while walking home from school, C asked, "When do we become adults?"  I told him that in the US, you are considered an adult at 18. He looks slightly troubled and responds, "Wow, I ONLY have 11 years until I'm an adult!"  The ONLY emphasis was his. This made me ponder my own life and reflecting on when I felt like I ONLY had so many years to grow up. I think I had that epiphany at about 16. LOL!


This afternoon, as we were walking home from the bus-stop, he asks me, "What do you think I should be when I grow up? I need to start deciding these things." I asked him what made him think that, like did a teacher ask him to think of what the children would like to be when they grow up?" He responded, "No, I was just thinking about it. I have four options. One is to be a Movie Director, the second is to be a Game Designer, the third is to be an Architect and the fourth is a Scientist. What would you pick for me?"  I told him, "Well, it's really up to you, but I think that either Architect will Scientist will be the most promising jobs." He nodded thoughtfully and we continued to walk home... a few seconds later, he'd say, "Mommy?" and I'd respond, "What C?" And he'd warmly answer, "I love you".  He's such an amazing kid.

Happy New Year!

This is a Japanese customary "Osonae 正月のお供え物"which is placed in front of Buddhist altars as a token offering to the gods. We're not Buddhist, but we wanted to show C what Japanese do for New Years and decided this Osonae is for Christ. It's made with Mochi (sweet rice pounded into a dense cake).

"Snow"men made from potato starch that was left over after coating the mochi to prevent sticking.

New Year's Food!