Cooter tickles me.
He can also frustrate me to no end, but that’s a story for another time.
He can be such a little old man in his eight year old body. He is trying to figure out who he is and where he is headed in our world, our community, but mostly right here in our very own house and family. With Mama and two big sisters and a female dog and cat, he and the Fella are outnumbered.
My little guy can get overwrought sometimes–like when he wishes his sister would play with him instead of “her friends” *insert his eye roll here* or when he misses his oldest sister away at college or when I go too many days between serving foods from his favorite food group–the “beige” one–and he’s soooooo hungry.
Bless. Just bless him.
But sometimes he surprises me with his adaptability. Or agreeability. Often it’s a little of both, or it’s that he is trying to play it cool and doesn’t want me to know how much he likes what I’ve just said. Whatever it is, he has a new mantra.
Cooter’s new words that he tends to say in response multiple times a day are:
“Yeah. Sure. Why not?”
Very often a shrug is thrown in there for good measure.
“Hey Cooter, you want to run in the grocery store with me while your sisters wait in the car?”
“Yeah, sure. Why not?”
“Hey Cooter, you up for a sandwich from CFA for supper?”
“Yeah, sure. Why not?”
“Hey buddy, wanna walk with me while I take Sophie out?”
“Yeah, sure. Why not?”
Instead of this being a sarcastic reply or the least bit flippant, he actually pauses in serious thought before he offers this answer. His tone carries a lilt of genuineness, with the emphasis on the ‘why not’ bit. As in well, sure, why wouldn’t I want to join you in the store, Mama? I can’t imagine anything I’d rather do than be with you as you tackle that list you forgot to bring with you. Again.
Okay, maybe that last bit was slightly exaggerated, but still–when he says “yeah, sure, why not?” it tickles my soul and gladdens my heart, because even though he’s trying to be too cool to get REALLY excited about something, that little bit of nonchalance is merely masking his true heart. Goodness knows that boy knows how to say NO a hundred different ways if that were his answer. Rest assured if you hear him say these new words, what he’s really saying deep down is, “Yes, thank you, that sounds GREAT!”
Maybe he’s trying to balance out his sister, our Princess, whose reactions can vary from “BEST. DAY. EVER” to “yes yes yes yes yes oh please yes thankyousomuch I can’t wait” to “I love this so much, and isn’t it the greatest thing you’ve ever seen?”
Personalities are fascinating, aren’t they? I don’t know if they could be any more different.
Still I think both responses serve them well. I’ve always loved our girl’s enthusiasm, and now I’m gaining a whole new appreciation for Cooter’s laid back vibe.
May we all be willing to look at something right in front of us and say, “Yeah, sure. Why not?” Who knows, it just might lead to our “BEST DAY EVER!”
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 