My daughter Julia came to live with me two years ago for school. It isn't easy for me to raise someone who is practically my nine-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.

Let’s Play a Game

Julia and Daddy walk to school in the morning. During these walks, Julia and Daddy have differences of opinion on what constitutes a fun game.

Julia: Daddy! I know, let’s play a game! First, what you have to do is pick a color of car you see and blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.

Daddy: You know what? I have a better game. Let’s play the Let’s Learn All Fifty States game. First, do you know how many states started the country? I’ll give you a hint; it’s the same number of red and white stripes on the flag.

(pause)

Julia: Sigh.