Grandpa, this post is for you

...Not so long ago, I used to love annoying the hell out of my dad when I'd ask him cheeky questions like, "Did you have to take the SATs when you were in high school?" and "Did they have Oreos when you were growing up?" Questions that I knew would make him feel old.

I was a rotten kid.

Well, Dad, tonight you got your revenge.

Rachel and I were talking about cotton candy while I was doing the dishes and she was finishing up dessert (chocolate chip cake), and I said I've never liked it -- too sweet.
"Did you like cotton candy when you were a little girl?" Rachel asked.
"Actually, I did," I admitted.

Inspired, Rachel then asked, "Tell me what they have now but they didn't have when you were a little girl."
"Uh...Pinkalicious," I said.
"They didn't have PINKALICIOUS?!" she cried.
"No, I said. "I would have LOVED it if they'd had Pinkalicious."

Pause.

"Mommy?" Rachel asked, concern in her voice. "Do you want to borrow my Pinkalicious book? For one night?"

I said no, of course, but I couldn't help thinking that we've already gotten to the "tell me what life was like when you were young," stage of parenting. I thought that was a few years off, Dad. Sigh...

***

Rachel greeted me at school tonight with a beautifully wrapped present. When I opened it I found a clay disc painted purple with her handprint pressed into it. A more beautiful gift I cannot imagine.

After I oohed and aahed (truthfully!) over it, she announced that it was for me AND Daddy. When I whined a bit that I didn't want to share (I had already started calculating how I could hang it near my desk at work), she told me severely that I HAVE to share it with Drew.

"a), because sharing is caring," she said sternly. "And b), if you don't share it, I'm gonna take it away."

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Rachel, you're ready to be a mommy right NOW," I said.