Out of the mouths of babes

I was with my kids at our crowded local post office today.  As you know, they always have displays of the speciality stamps one can buy.  In her carrying voice, my oldest announced, “If I had the money, I’d buy the one to help prevent family violence.”

“Hmm,” I thought, “that’s interesting.”

So I asked, “Why?”

“Because that’s such a big problem for us,” she replied.

At that moment, every head in the post office turned my way.  I kept my cool.

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” she said.  “My little brother and I fight all the time.”

I couldn’t help myself.  I burst out laughing, as everyone around us broke into relieved smiles.  I explained that the family violence they were talking about was when the Mommy and Daddy had problems controlling themselves.  She was satisfied with that, and announced that, if she had her druthers, she’d buy the stamp booklet to help wild animals.

Thank God we got that whole thing out in the open before someone called Child Protective Services!