(It’s Flashback Sunday! That time when we roll up our sleeves and dig into the distant past for something that hasn’t been seen in many years. Sort of like literary proctologists, except without the physical discomfort or awkwardness. That said, today’s Flashback is from 2005, back before I even had a blog because I still referred to going online as “Using the Internets.” The inspiration for this column came from my then seven-year-old son, who became fascinated with putting things in his belly button. I’m just glad that particular curiosity ended there…)
As with most explanations I find myself giving as a parent, things started with a simple “No.”
In this case, it was: “No, you can’t save chewing gum in your belly button.” My son then countered with the inevitable “Why?”
“Because it’s gross,” I explained, then added for good measure: “What if it gets stuck?”
“It won’t, Dad.”
“It might — so take it out.”
A roll of the eyes, droop of the shoulders. “But why-y-y-y-y?”
“Because I said so.”
Eventually, it always comes down to that answer, which isn’t an answer at all. But for some reason it seems to do the trick. At least it used to. Apparently on this day, my son had awakened a little wiser, and with a better understanding of the difference between battles and wars.
Ned's Blog 