All parents get strange questions from their kids, but Sunday I got the craziest one yet in my 8 years of parenthood.
"Dad, why don't animals have buttcracks? They have holes but no cracks."
The query came from my six yer old son while we were sitting in a hunting blind watching a young doe. Yes, she happened to lighten her load while we were spying on her, which is what provoked the question.
Summoning all of my worldly wisdom, I said, "Humans have complex brains, opposable thumbs, and butt cracks. That's what makes us special."
49 comments:
Apes have buttcracks. And horses. And cows. And hippos and rhinos.
Ants don't. I think.
I think that's a fantastic question. Though I think there are some kinds of monkeys that have buttcracks, if hours at the zoo with six year old students taught me anything.
AhHa! Great answer.
and elephants I think.
What a great question and wise answer.
David is correct on his list of animals.
Travis, an adult has to be a quick thinker to come up with an answer for a child's innocent question. And then make it so natural they won't repeat the question. Good thing it wasn't in church.
Dear Travis,
What a nice succinct, tight story.
I visualized you, your son, the doe, and the blind. I could imagine the perplexed frown on your son and the surprise that I am sure you tried to hide when you heard his question.
I now understand better what you meant when you suggested breaking down my Alba posting into three separate posts. Thanks for that suggestion on my post, and thanks for such a good illustration in this posting.
Oh, and I especially related to your forged ATM card story. I cannot wait to return home to Hong Kong so that it is easier to post, as I feel a bit inspired.
Cheers from rainy Vancouver,
Chris
Well, now I know, too!
Travis: PERFECT age-appropriate answer! (Evolutionary psychologists might say it's a sex thang) Aloha from Waikiki-
Oh my. That cracked me up. I don't know how I would answer that question, but I think you did a good job. :-)
ha! I love that question. Good answer too!!
Travis, your a regular Dr. Spock!
You've gotta have cheeks to have a crack.
Ah, that's too classic. Gotta love children -- they get down to the nitty-gritty.
Sounds like an asstute child. ;)
Hilary, that was a three-groaner.
BWAHAHAHA! Perfect answer!
Thanks for clearing that up for me! Not that I ever wondered - I'm not that smart. :o)
Hah! Very well played. You've got to be fast to be a dad.
Now I know why there is no talking in the blind.
i want to live long enough to see that kid grow up...what a great mind..
Dude. You are in serious trouble with that kid.
your level on the food chain is determined by the butt crack question lol
I don't know what's funnier... your son's question or the fact that so many of your readers are intimately familiar with animals that have butt-cracks.
That is truly something I have never given a second's thought. Maybe because I never sat in a hunting bind watching animals at close range.
You should have told your son, "We have buttcracks so that plumbers can gross us out when they fix the pipe under the sink."
Thanks for the warning, as I bet he will enlighten Colby about this sometime soon...
well played..i am gonna steal that one!
I know some humans who ARE butt cracks.
ROFLMAO!! Good answer.
I just can't top Hilary's comment. I tried. Sorry. :)
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha...
Perfect answer. I also like Melissa Marsh's That cracked me up...
But then I'm a sucker for silly puns.
OMG. LOL. How 'bout a spew warning up front next time? Rock on, Daddy!
I was going to post a short list of animals I could think of with butt cracks but I see I've been beaten to the punch so I will politely withdraw to my corner now. Also, thanks Blogger for correcting my apparently incorrectly spelled "buttcracks" to "butt cracks"!
Hahahahah! Too funny!
Kids are So great!
(and your answer wasn't bad either!)
i found you through rebecca's blog. with this being the first post of yours i read i may have to read more often. nicely handled. better than the go ask wikipedia which i have been known to give my 7 year old.
Yet another memorable Father/Son moment from the annals of Deer Stand Wisdom.
Given the responses of Aaron and Charles, I'll keep my response to only saying the question was hilarious, if not accurate.
Hi Travis,
The world loves kids, and the world especially loves fathers like you who spend the time and answer the questions.
Terrie
Travis,
Your wisdom surpasses that of the ordinary man. I don't believe Wikipedia covers the subject; perhaps you can be of some help to them.
Six years old and he already has a writer's questioning mind. I love it!
Ahhhhhhhh. So THAT'S what separates us from the animals! *LOL*
(FYI, you won the blogiversary contest. In case I don't still have it, please send your street address to lgramlich@email.com )
That's why you've never seen an animal fix a kitchen sink.
Good response!
This made my day, Travis. I needed a good laugh.
Oh, you're a genius! I will say I had to wait to scroll down and read the rest after the question cause I was laughing so har.
I read a book you recommend a bit back, and recommeded it today on my blog too.
just say no to crack....
LOL! Wonderful answer. :)
Still need your street address again, Travis (see my previous comment on this post.)
LOL! Kids say the damndest things at the damndest times. :)
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