A Jedi Master or Simply a Wise Youngling?

"Kids say the darndest things", don't they? I see this old adage played out daily in our house. We often write down what Jax says, his little 'Jaxisms' and I've noticed that there are a few different categories of these -isms. 

For your reading pleasure:

1. "oh-my-gosh-you-just-said-that-I-am-so-embarrassed" 
2. "awwwww-that's-so-insanely-sweet"
3. "you-are-so-gross"
4. "wow-you-understood-that"
5. "I-don't-know-how-to-respond-to-that"

Sometimes their honesty and lack of awareness of social norms is surprising and quite humorous. Here is a perfect example of category #1:

Jax: Seeing a larger lady walk by and pointing, "Mom, she is fat. Why is she fat?"

Me: "Well, Jaxon, all people are different. It's not about what she looks like, it's about who she is." 

[Well, what was I supposed to say to that?]

Jax: "Well, who is she?"

Me: "I don't know."

Geez. Let's see. What might he have learned from that exchange?...'She must not be important then if it's about who she is and we don't know her.' Way to go me! [d'oh!]

...And, #2:

Jax: "Mom, you are my favorite mommy. I just love you. You are special to me. You're the only mommy we have."

Me: melting heart

#3:

Jax: "We should put some poop on it. That would be funny....I'm just kidding! That would be disgusting! Ewww!"

Me: "Ummm, yeah. That's gross. Let's not do that."

And sometimes, they completely understand everything you've been trying to teach them and they have internalized it so well, they've come up with their own versions of those lessons. Category #4:

Jax, over the course of a morning snuggle: 

"If you don't listen to your parents, they will get frustrated."

"If you listen to your parents, they won't get upset."

"If you punch your parents they will put you in time out."

[That last one really got me!]

Me: "Why are we even talking about this?"

Jax: "We are just having a conversation, Mom."

...And, #5:

Other times, it's surprising how well they grasp their own feelings...even if it is after the fact.

Me, as I'm putting Jax to bed after a difficult dinner and bath: "Jax, I need you to do a better job of listening and being helpful."

Jax: "But sometimes, when I'm 3, it's just too hard for me to do that. Sometimes when I wake up, and I have to help it makes me so tired and I get frustrated. It is hard to do that and I get frustrated."

I can see this last piece is directly from all the help I have been needing from pretty much everyone around me recently. I really like to be able to do things on my own, the way I like to do them. Unfortunately, with a broken foot and limited mobility, it takes me longer to do anything and I need help with things I previously didn't need help with. Clearly, my need for help is a little more than a 3 year old can handle. Or at least a little more than he is ready to give.

Duly noted.

So I ask you...Youngling? Padawan? or Jedi?