May 21, 2006

Cultural Differences

The other day I think I gave Caleb the stupidest answer to any question he has ever asked. Sometimes as a parent you have to make things up as you go because either you don’t know the answer or the answer is too complicated for a two year-old to understand.

We were doing our weekly Wal-Mart trip when Caleb noticed a Muslim woman in the traditional long robe and head wrap. Of course we were standing right beside her when he said, “What’s that lady wearing?”

I didn’t know how to explain to Caleb why she was dressed so differently than my shorts and T-shirt while standing in the middle of the crowd. So I leaned close to him and said the most ridiculous thing ever. I could have kicked myself while saying, “She doesn’t want her ears to get cold”. I knew this was the quickest way to satisfy his curiosity, and it made sense because we were in the refrigerated section.

I figured Andy could explain the real cultural differences to him later that night