The Logic of a Seven Year Old

I joke with other parents on how we spend the first five years of our children’s lives teaching them to walk and talk, and then we spend the next thirteen years telling them to sit down and shut up.  I am so glad I don't really live by the idea, or I would have missed some of the funniest logic from child D. Here is a conversation I would have missed out on:

Let me set up the scenario, we have just come from the Dr. office, Child D has a sinus infection so we have to drive over to Wal-Mart to fill the prescription.  The conversation goes like this:

(Standing at the pharmacy counter with the pharmacist.)

Child D: Is he a Doctor?

Me: No honey, he's a pharmacist.

Child D: Well that's stupid.

 (Stifling a laugh, and feeling a bit uncomfortable, as the pharmacist is STILL standing there.)

Me: Why is that stupid?

Child D: Well, we just came from the doctor. He is the one who said this medicine will help me get better.  What does this guy know? Why are we getting the medicine from him?

Me: Well, he's kind of like a Doctor.  He has to go to school just like a doctor.  He is the one the doctor tells what kind of medicine will make you better.  Then he has to mix it up and tell us how to use it so you will feel better.

Child D: But why isn't he a doctor, and why did he have to go to school just to hand me a bottle of medicine?

Me: He isn't a doctor because he doesn't have to look at all the sick people, and he has to go to school because he has to learn how to mix all the medicines together so that people won't get hurt when they take them.  Does that make sense?

Child D: Oh, so he goes to school so he can learn how to mix the medicines that the doctor says will make me feel better?

Me: Exactly! Do you understand now?

Child D: Yeah, that makes sense. Mom, can I pick a treat when we pay for the groceries.

(Chuckling to myself, because I know that was the cue that the conversation was over.)

Me: Sure.

If I lived by the thought that children shouldn't talk and ask questions I would have missed the slightly uncomfortable, yet adorable conversation.  I hope we all let our children talk.  Sometimes it might be horribly embarrassing, yet it will probably always be a teaching moment, and a bonding moment.  One of those missed opportunities that I didn't miss. :-)