The One Time It Isn't Okay to Pray

Hayden and I went to Chuck E. Cheese for a birthday party today. When he finished eating cake, this conversation began out of the blue:

Hayden: I want you to have a girl baby.

Me: You do? Why a girl?

Hayden: Well I guess you can have a boy too, I'll be older than a boy or a girl.

Me: Well, I'm not having anymore babies.

Hayden: Yes! You have to. I'm going to ask God for another baby. (he places his hands together and begins to pray as Chuck E. dances around our tables)

Me: (grabbing Hayden's hands and stopping his prayer) Stop praying, I don't want anymore babies.

Hayden: Yes, I'm praying.

Me: Hayden, stop it. I'm almost 40 years old. I'm too old for babies. Stop praying!

Hayden: 50 is old, 40 is young. I'm praying. (he places his hands back together and says a quick prayer)

Finally I give up and say a prayer to counteract his prayer. Whew! Good save.


During the car ride home we had this conversation:

Hayden: How are babies made?

Me (partly delaying and partly redirecting): Uhm... that's kind of a tricky question. What's got you thinking about babies all of a sudden?

Hayden: I just like them.

(pause)

(pause)

(me, happy I tiptoed around that one)

(pause)

Hayden: So how are they made?

Me (clearly unprepared): Well, mommies and daddies just get together and love each other a lot. So, are you going to share your Chuck E. Cheese toys with Bran?

Hayden: No

Me: Well you can't show them to him then or he'll be upset.

Hayden: I'll just sneek them into my room.

Whew! Another good save. Lesson learned: if you want to redirect the thoughts of a 6-year-old boy, ask him about sharing his toys with his sibling.