Innocent, isn’t he?
Here’s a funny story to warm your hearts and possibly wet your pants. I was left home alone with my son and he wanted to eat lunch while watching Ninja Turtles. Nothing new there, but he finally broke his month long refusal to eat chicken nuggets. I had to prepare a new batch and went about my business in the kitchen. I turn away from the microwave to see a peculiar and worrisome scene.
I’m editing my fourth book, which is over 500 pages printed out. It sits in a blue binder and my son knows not to draw in it. This thing holds more than a ream of paper and is awkward to carry. See where I’m going with this?
There he was walking down the hallway with Legends of Windemere: Family of the Tri-Rune in his hands. At first, I was scared because he was heading toward the bathroom. Then he went into the den and asked for me. Apparently, he forgot I was in the kitchen, so he came toddling back. Here is what he said while holding my book (he actually talks in the third person, but I’m not wanting to toss his name into the internet just yet.):
“I have Daddy’s book! I bought Daddy’s book! Daddy! I bought your book! I buy Daddy’s book! Daddy’s book!”
Here’s the kicker, folks:
“I edit Daddy’s book!” Then he sets it on the floor, opens the binder, and stares at it for the two minutes it takes for me to finish the chicken nuggets. “I read book, Daddy! I edit book, Daddy!”
Totally adorable, heart-warming, and I also wonder if he now thinks me editing is nothing more than staring at the pages. Still, thought I would share this because it’s a fun, cute story and it deals with writing.
Legends of Windemere 
Classic!!! 🙂 🙂
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It’s very impressive that he knows the word editing.
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It is indeed!!! 🙂 🙂
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That is too precious. What a beautiful memory!
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Thanks. He’s full of them. This is definitely one of the better ones.
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How cute! Kids definitely pay attention to what is happening even when we think they aren’t.
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Exactly. I try to remember that. Though, someone in the house recently forgot and now he knows a fun four-letter word.
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Oops 😉
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Just glad it wasn’t me.
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I love it – that is so sweet! 🙂
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He really is. I’m always surprised how he’s willing to let me write or even walks me over to my notebooks when he thinks I’m upset.
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That just about breaks my heart, in a really good way. Children can be so surprising in their empathy.
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He’s started telling people around here not to be angry, which is cute.
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Aww – we need more people like your son around!
This is the perfect story for a Monday – really helps cheer the Monday pain-in-the-arse feeling.
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Didn’t think of it that way. Glad to be of service.
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Now you need to teach him to say, “I left a five star review of daddy’s book on Amazon.”
I have a cat who has been helping edit my book–he seems to think that shredding the margins of the paper improves the overall flow of the narrative.
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Cats are an authors best enemy/friend. I should work on that phrase. Or ‘Buy my daddy’s book.’
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Brilliant! He’s definitely following in your footsteps! 😀
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Not sure how I feel about that. I keep thinking about how Tolkien’s son kind of took over Middle Earth when J.R.R. passed away. Part of me wonders if the same would happen with my son, but that feels like a selfish push of my own dreams onto him. He’s showing signs more toward drawing and singing.
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You can’t ask for any better support than that 🙂
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It’s all I need some days.
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That is so cute!! I was waiting for the punch line where he spilled something all over it or dropped it in the toilet…I’m glad it didn’t happen! 🙂
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Me too. He knows better since he drew pictures on the blank sides of one of the other books.
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Adorable! Little kids know exactly what to say. 🙂
Good luck with your edit!
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Thanks. It’s going to be slow going.
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How gorgeous 🙂
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He’s a cutie.
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I’m cracking up over here! You’ll be glad you got this is writing…one day.
Ellespeth
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Definitely. It’s something for him to be proud of too.
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well as long as he doesn’t hand it back with your spelling and grammar corrected… very cute story…
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If he can do that then my life would be a lot easier.
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How sweet!
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He really is.
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Ah! Such a cute and definitely heart warming story. Also, your son is a cutie patootie! ^_^
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Thanks. It’s the Super Mario shirt.
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Better not burn those chicken nuggets daddy. Looks like he may be your editor one day.
Very cute, Charles 🙂
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I pay him in cupcakes and fries.
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I’ll have to add those to my next query letter.
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🙂 Precious!
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That he is.
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That is sweet. He is attentive. Made me smile. 🙂
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Very attentive and it’s something I have to watch out for these days. Every word is his to hear and repeat when I least expect it.
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Oh yes, it is better to be careful around kids. They see, they hear and they learn.
There was a kid in my neighborhood who started using swear words when he was just 6- 7 because his elder brother used to do so.
That shows how much a child learns from things that happen around.
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We’re trying not to say anything, but he’s picked up a few. Thankfully, he doesn’t use them.
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Wait…isn’t your editing just stare at the pages and then give them to me?
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I write stuff on the pages. Mostly doodles and incoherent ramblings about underwear gnomes.
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lol I adore underwear gnomes.
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They’re working for you, aren’t they?
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So cute!
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Yup. He’s currently giggling and escaping his diaper change before school. He told me to go away, so I get to watch and listen.
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Ahahah dice! Maya starts to hate the changing as well. Now I have to face the potty training and I have no clue where to start!
But I found this…; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MmEo9zBu3k
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We’re going to start that next week. He doesn’t hate changing so much that he loves being chased.
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Ahaha so cute! Let’s see if we manage! I’d face a dragon instead!
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How’s that for a little encouragement? What a sweet little boy 🙂
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Very sweet and adorable. Need to run the idea if posting a video of him on here by Tracy. Got a cute one of him playing magic.
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I’d love to see it 🙂 I think I understand why she might hesitate, though. Does posting too much information about your kids put them in danger? I don’t know what is safe vs. acceptable since the blogosphere is open to the world (unless you make it private). At least on FB (personal account) it’s limited to the people you know. I’ve wondered about this.
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It’s weird. All of our friends post pics and videos on YouTube. So it’s hard to guess what is dangerous and what’s safe. You always wonder if you’ll be the one that it happens to.
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Good point. I’ve noticed the hesitation to post things about your kids in the blogosphere. I often see them referred to as “the spawn” (lol, Kristen Lamb), the 4yo, etc. and have wondered if there was some Blogging with Kids safety course that I missed 😉
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I usually say the toddler. It’s the idea that once their name is out there, the predators can swoop in with precision.
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I guess it’s along the same lines as don’t put your kids name on their shirt, lunchbox, backpack, etc. If a stranger knows their name the child might think they’re okay. Sad that we have to worry about this isn’t it?
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I still do the name on his belongings. Otherwise, he’ll lose it or the teachers might not remember who gets what.
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I just wanted to say that I read this from Twitter earlier and had to drop by and leave a comment on it.
A) He is Uh-Dor-Uh-BULLLL
B) Seriously cute and did warm the chilly cockles of my heart.
C) I’m just realizing how ridiculous that saying actually is when it’s typed out in front of my face.
D) If only your son was old enough to edit it FOR you (unless you’re like me, are insane, and actually ENJOY editing your own books)
E) I KNOW I’m forgetting something . . .
I don’t know. Sorry for all the letters, lol. Glad to know I’m not the only one lugging around massive binders full of paper to do my editing. 😀
Be careful though. I cut my hand open on one once. Seriously.
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Thanks. I do enjoy editing my own books, so when it stops being fun, I know it’s time for a final run. The toddler tries to help at times. Mostly pointing at letters he knows.
I got my hand stuck in the bindings once, so I’m a lot more careful these days.
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That is a great story. It sounds like you have someone that may be following Daddy’s footsteps. 🙂
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Hope so. I could use the back-up.
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