Learning new things about my children

It seems that the longer you live, the more you find out about the dastardly deeds the little angels, in the form of your daughters, did along the way. I spoke a couple of years ago about how my youngest daughter took it upon herself to help her classmates when she was in kindergarten. We found it both humorous and fascinating that she was dealing out chocolate candy to her friends whose mothers didn’t allow it. Over time, the rebel in the child subsided and the corner candy slinger ceased her operations.

The other day I learned about the time the pent-up rebel side of her sister revealed itself. As my wife and I sat at the house I was not so intently paying attention to the conversation my daughter and her mother were having. As the conversation turned to laughter I focused on the girls and asked what was so funny. It was then that Momma described to me the lengths Lilli would go to during her preschool education.

Through tears of laughter, I learned that Lilli and her friends had a propensity for ChapStick during that time. Thinking nothing of this newly learned factoid I simply shook my head and listened intently. Lilli continued. She described that she learned that her friends would give pretty much anything for the cherished stick of flavored wax, so she devised a plan to become rich. Capitalizing on her newly discovered commodity, Lilli gathered every tube around the house and went about her newly found job of distributing.

As she described to me that “Kids will trade anything to have some,” my mind became confused as to why the children desired ChapStick so much. The thought crossed my mind that maybe the classroom was dry, and the kids needed the moisturizing effect. Beyond that I was at a loss. It was then that I decided to suck it up and ask the child why everyone wanted it so bad. It was then that the pure, unabridged, truth was revealed to me.

Lilli described that the small tube not only provided a soothing level of protection whenever needed, but in addition to that it seconded as a quite tasty little treat, “especially the flavored ones.” Speechless, what’s a dad to say. As I sat there in non-belief, all I could muster was “really?” Lilli described that the “treat” aspect was truly what drove her success because her product was in high demand, and she had a hard time keeping an adequate supply.

Still speechless, all I could do was shake my head, and hold back the laughter, as I attempted to visualize a bunch of three- and four-year-olds slinging Chap Stick in the school yard playground, all to fill their internal need for a waxy snack. Kids today are just plain different. I guess I should be happy that it was my child who had the vision to bring the product to market and then followed through on that vision. So often we think about something that is innovative and fail to act. It is when we dream and when we act that we can find success through newly opened doors. Lilli assures me that her slinging days are behind her but admits that there is the occasional temptation for a minty snack. Like I said, kids are simply made different these days.

Richard J. Stephens lives in Carter County and is the father of three little ladies ranging in age from 9 to 29.