Oh to be 6 or 9 again

We found out on Monday that Liz was diagnosed with breast cancer - now the hard part telling the kids.

While I was at work Liz talked to the boys. They both took the news as well as a 6 & 9 year old could given their knowledge. I did not know that she had told them until later that night when I was leaving soccer practice with Carter. He asked "who is putting us to bed tonight?" - in our house there is often only one right answer and his question is more probing than sincere. I explained that I would be and he came back with "Why? Because mom has cancer?" I went on to tell him "no" because I was just going to give mom a break tonight because she had a long day. I asked if he had any questions or wanted to talk. He told me that he knew mom was going to be ok, and I realized shortly after that "talk" that the word peanut butter meant more to Carter than the word cancer... Oh to be 6 again.


While Harrison was finishing his homework, I asked him if he had talked to mom about anything today. He explained that she had shared with him the news about cancer and that she was going to have to go to the hospital but that she would be fine. I asked if he had any questions and he replied "No dad, but you know, this is going to be a messy thing and it won't just be as easy as cherry flavored Benadryl"... Oh to be 9 again.