My daughter Julia came to live with me a year ago for school. It isn't easy for me to raise someone who is practically my 9-year-old clone, but that is exactly what I find I am doing with Julia. Through our judo and soccer practices, reading, writing and arithmetic, Girl Scouts, and Japanese language classes, we occasionally have a conversation that connects us both in a sometimes deep and usually humorous way. Hopefully, you will be as entertained as we are.

Don’t Scrape Your Teeth

Because of her interest in sports and personal interest in the University of Kansas, Daddy took Julia to the Sports Zone to stay awake much past her bedtime and to sit amongst the Kansas alumni to watch the National Championship game. It is the next morning, and she is eating breakfast…

(Daddy has his back turned to Julia.)

Daddy: Julia, don’t scrape your teeth on your spoon.

(sung to the Jayhawk chant)

Julia: Doooooon’t… scrape your teeeeeth… on your… spoooooo… oooon!

Daddy: Sigh.