Set the stage: I'm at the kitchen counter making J's lunch for school, while J and H are at the kitchen table eating breakfast. J is simultaneously eating and engaging in non-stop talking. Everything is going as normally as any other day.
J: "Mommy, how old do you have to be to kiss a girl?"
Everything is now NOT going as normally as any other day. Thankfully, my back was turned to J so he did not get to witness the shocked expression that sat on my face for a full 5 seconds before I was able to speak words.
Me: "How old do you think?" (Parenting lesson #36: When in doubt of how to answer a question, ask your child what he thinks the answer is.)
J: "Um... I don't know... like maybe 19?"
Me: (relieved sigh) Well, it's interesting because there's not really a set rule about when you can do that."
J: "So, there's no like law about it?" (Someone is clearly thinking about the recent social studies lessons at school about civics...)
Me: "No, there's no law about it. But it's usually something that happens when a person is older, like a teenager, and the two people both want to kiss."
J: (silence)
Me: (tentatively... but feeling as if it MUST be asked) "Is there a girl you are interested in kissing?"
J: (shocked expression of his own... maybe more like disgust) "NO! Ewww!"
Me: (smiling to self) "Okay, just asking."
End of Act 1 of the day.
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