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July 10, 2010 23 Comments

This or That?

My son was humming a tune when he walked past me. I was seated at the kitchen table, flipping through the entertainment section of the Wall Street Journal.For fun, I looked up and posed a series of questions to see if I’m tracking with his top interests … something like “This or That.” “I’ve got a question for you,” I began. “If you could instantly be great at something, would you rather be a great soccer player or a great dancer?” I must have been influenced by the entertainment section.He sat at the table to answer. “Soccer player.”“Okay, soccer player or singer?”“Soccer.”“Soccer or piano.”“Piano.”“Oh!” I didn’t expect piano to edge out soccer. “Hmmm…piano or cook?”“Cook.”“Really? Well, we need to have you cook more! I was just thinking I should get you in the kitchen with me, helping with dinner preparations. That’s great.” I paused, intending to end with cook. I may have even glanced back at the newspaper.“There’s something you forgot to ask,” he said.“Oh? Well, let’s see … cook, or…” I couldn’t think of anything else.“There’s something else I’d like to be great at and you haven’t asked me.”“Well, what is it?”“A friend,” he said. “I’d like to be a really great friend.“He took me off guard. I smiled. He smiled back.“That’s just wonderful … and it kind of goes with cooking. Cooking and friends … you can cook for your friends or even with your friends. Sometimes people get together and prepare a meal together.”“Sure. I can cook for my friends and play piano for my friends and play soccer!”“With your friends?”“Yes. So that’s what I’d really like to be.”“A friend.”“Yes.”A friend. Yes, indeed.

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Filed Under: children, family, parenting Tagged With: this or that

Comments

  1. hopeannfaith says

    July 10, 2010 at 11:51 am

    Absolutely awesome! That warmed my heart! Thank you.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 10:44 pm

      So glad you stopped by!

      Reply
  2. Kelly Langner Sauer says

    July 10, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    awh – what a sweetheart!

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 10:44 pm

      He’s got a bigger heart than I do…I learn a lot about love from this boy I’ve been given to raise…

      Reply
  3. Megan Willome says

    July 10, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    May I send you my daughter’s number? Just kidding. Great kid!

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 10:45 pm

      🙂

      Reply
  4. trishsouthard says

    July 10, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    Ann, this was a tearjerker. thank you.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 10:45 pm

      Trish, I wish you could spend more time with him.

      Reply
  5. A Simple Country Girl says

    July 10, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    Sounds like a great day, hanging out with your son!

    Blessings.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 10:47 pm

      We went through a “This or That” exercise with the girls this weekend. They love it–they get to really think through what they like best. I should probably do it myself.

      Cooking or cleaning?

      Cooking.

      Cooking or jogging?

      Jogging.

      Jogging or blogging?

      Blogging!!

      Reply
  6. Ruth says

    July 10, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    All I can say is… WOW!

    I choked up reading that… and when I think about it… that’s what I want to be great at too (minus the soccer) 😉

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 1:10 pm

      That’s what I want to be great at, too, Ruth, starting with family and working out from there to everyone God puts in my life.

      And I’m happy to watch soccer, but no good playing it.

      In fact, I’m off to watch World Cup right now!

      Reply
  7. ~Brenda says

    July 10, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    This is awesome! And I want to be a friend too, and I’ll go for piano. But no soccer … and very little cooking. ;))

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 1:09 pm

      If I could get him cooking most of the meals someday, I’d be very happy–maybe I’d be a better friend myself! 😉

      Reply
  8. Linda Bannister says

    July 11, 2010 at 8:35 am

    Your child has beautiful values and the most Christ-like heart. People first. It is a powerful reflection on you and the Belgian Wonder.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 1:08 pm

      I don’t know, Linda. I think sometimes he’s the one teaching us about that….but thank you. People first. Yes.

      Reply
  9. B Gorinski says

    July 11, 2010 at 10:15 pm

    Great Ann! Sounds like a plan.

    Though, today my 4-year old said he wants to fight trolls when he grows up. I suppose any friends would appreciate that.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 11, 2010 at 10:48 pm

      I can imagine “This or That” at your house:

      Troll-fighting or football?

      Troll-fighting.

      Troll-fighting or water-gun war?

      Troll-fighting.

      Troll-fighting or dinner?

      Troll-fighting.

      Reply
  10. Alison says

    July 15, 2010 at 8:48 pm

    I really love your story. That’s awesome. He sounds like a great kid! Being a friend is so important, even if it’s just to one person!

    A cooking, piano playing, soccer player, friend!

    Makes me think of my mom. My Pop always told me that my mom wanted to be a “singin’, cookin’, truck drivin’, nun”!

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 22, 2010 at 1:05 pm

      You’ve made me want to meet your mom!

      Reply
  11. emily wierenga says

    July 17, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    ann… i’ve just discovered you through high callings, but i will be back… i love that you mother so intently. with such love. these are the moments, no?

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 22, 2010 at 1:06 pm

      I went to your site and hoped to find a blog and place to comment–thank you for initiating this interaction. Would love to get to know you better! And thank you for your kind words about my parenting…he’s a wonderful person to parent.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Food on Fridays: Zucchini Recipes « says:
    July 15, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    […] I set my son to work making the zucchini bread. He said he wants to be a great cook, so we decided he should learn to make the things he likes, so he can share them with his […]

    Reply

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