On the walk home
November 23, 2010"The book I'm writing, it's actually a series, it's going to be nine parts, and the part I'm writing now--well, not actually writing but planning in my mind--is the part with me and Nick and we're fighting robots, not big robots but small robots, well actually medium-sized robots, like they're dog-sized, and Nick has this laser gun and it's like ka-zing but the laser misses and the robot is like WHEEAAAAA and I'm hiding in a locker and then I jump out like WHOAAA and then WHOOOoOSHhhhh and BLAMBLAMBLAM and the thing explodes all over. That's the first part. And then--"
"Okay, Henry?"
"--the second part is when everything's all blown up and the robots are on top of the school and we're like GET AWAY STUPID ROBOTS and they're all flying up in the air and there's like a big spider monster who's all [frantic limb movements commence]--"
"Henry. HENRY."
"Mom. I'm trying to tell you about my book."
"Yes, but there's a problem. I don't understand a single word you're saying."
"So?"
"I've lost track of what's going on."
"I'm saying, the robots are like ON TOP and we're like DOWN THERE and they've got these green tentacled things, well, not tentacled, they're kind of like spiders but not--"
"I'm totally lost. Why don't you just write down your stories? Like, on paper? Then I can see them and understand what you're talking about."
"Because I want to tell you about them."
"But I can't understand what the story is. Half the time you're not using words."
"Mom, that's okay."
"It's okay that I can't follow your story?"
"I just feel like saying it."
"Okay, so while you're talking, can I let my mind wander? I don't have to try to follow this?"
"Yes."
"So I should just pretend to listen?"
"You don't have to pretend."
"No 'uh-huh's and 'I see's? You don't need those?"
"NO. Mom, can I just tell my story?"
"Absolutely, my son. I will go on a little vacation in my mind while you natter away."
"THANK you."
"I'm so glad we can communicate like this."
"Yep. Can I talk, now?"
Reader Comments (44)
The only difference between your house and my house is that the BLAM Robots BWOOSH stories are fired between my sons and they invent their next saga where they "destroy evil and save the world."
I just sit there going glassy eyed until I finally have to yell. "Eat now! Talk later! We NEED TO LEAVE FOR SCHOOL!"
My also 9 year old son put his stories to paper as comic books and must come to me after each and every panel is drawn. He tells me the story - with sound effects - and expects my undivided attention. I LOVE his creativity and WANT to enjoy his work but have asked for several panels between readings. Just to give me a little time to chop an onion or pee.
He and a friend have also started writing song lyrics. I cannot wait for the vocal demonstration that will no doubt result. There is also talk of forming a band. He will be on drums which, I guess, means he's going to go live with some other people who will let him have drums. Momma is no fan of the domestic drums.
You really should make a book of his stories. Including all the noises and arm movements. :D
Oh, my heart breaks with what a good listener you want to be.
He just wants to talk, and you want to really listen.
You are too dang sweet...
Happy Thanksgiving, one in a million, Alice Bradley.
You rock the most!
So cute!! My daughter Lykke is only 8 month old, so I have a couple of years to go;)
Great blog by the way!
Wow, I wasn't aware we were raising the same kid! Cuz they're all like, you know, random, and there's all these Ker-WHIZZZ noises and I have no idea what's going on most of the time. Although to add to the circus, I have a really matter-of-fact 4yr old girl who will stop him and say "You know, James, mom and I have NO IDEA what you're saying. And pick a robot size! They're either big or they're NOT."
Oh, oh, PICK ME! PICK ME!
This is sooo my experience with my son since about age 9 (he's 11.5 now). Except in his case he retells the best scenes - with absolutely no context, mind you - of the latest book or manga he is reading, or video/computer games he is playing. And believe me, this can go on... and on... and on. Did I mention it goes on for a while? Like... up to an hour at a sitting?
I have actually said to him, point blank, "do you actually not care that I am totally not interested in this?" Which I know makes me sound mean, but honestly, what I started to worry about was that he either was challenged in terms of picking up nonverbal cues (like my eyeballs rolling back in my head while I feigned death) or was so colossally self-centred that he really just had to hear the sound of his own voice regardless of what the other party was doing/thinking/dying.
So here's the (not so funny) punch line: turns out he has minor OCD. He is pretty much incapable of not finishing a verbal story once he starts telling it. I can actually say to him, "listen, bud, you'll have to tell me the rest later," and he'll say, "no problem" and immediately launch right back into the anecdote. It is, quite literally, a compulsion for him. The good news is that, like your son, he has also made it clear that we really don't have to feign attention, as long as he can finish his story.
(I am not suggesting that anyone else's kid has OCD... this story-telling behaviour, as others have noted, is perfectly normal! But understanding the particulars of my son's situation really helped me become more patient with his sagas.)
And the nine-part robot/spider monster/laser series? I'm looking forward to the screen adaptation. ;-)
Ha ha ha. I never actually listen when my 13yo tells me about Nerf Guns and X-box games, and mostly I get away with it except for once in a while when he solicits my feedback. Then I blink and try to repeat the last few words he said as a question, which usually works.
My 10-year-old daughter also catches me not listening sometimes, but in those cases there is heck to pay.
OMG! That's MY son, only I get in major trouble if I don't actively listen to his very confusing stories. Stories that often mirror cartoons, or versions of a movie he plans to make, and I get confused and don't know if he's talking about a TV show, his movie, or a story he is going to write. And then he insists I ask questions about what he is telling me, and I ask the wrong questions because I don't know if some character was on the TV show he saw or is going to be in his movie... but it turns out the character is in his STORY. And why oh why won't he just write this stuff down? I've given him reams of paper and many leather bound journals (not to mention pens, pencils, and even QUILLS, but he prefers to deliver the audio version rather than the written word and I get it wrong EVERY.TIME. And usually? At the end of his story, I KID YOU NOT!, he says something like "Wait! Actually, no. That's NOT WHAT HAPPENED. What happens is..." And he starts ALL.OVER. with a different version for me to follow.
LOL - I LOVE it! :D Kids are awesome. :)
Today I sent a former student copies of all my old prompts from when I taught creative writing. I think I am going to have to dust them off for myself, too, now that I am a vice principal and not a teacher...get those juices flowing creatively again...
Oh my goodness... it's my husband. I zone him out too.
Wow, Henry is very accommodating about this kind of stuff... I remember being a lot more insistent (and LOUD) about the listening when I was nattering away to my parents!
Sometimes I feel like that when my husband is talking. One question about whether something is "right" could lead to a 20 minute long Bible lesson and OHMYLORD I so am not a fan of those.
Oh, thank God. There is another child like my son. He talks exactly like that, too. Thanks for writing it down (unlike his story).
My kids actually want me to listen to them and respond back otherwise they keep repeating themselves.
I actually asked my [7yo] boy this today - reply-" you have to listen insomuch as you can make a decent answer. Otherwise I'm not bothered."
!!! How is is mom to respond to that?!?! I'm "Ughhh.... my wine is warm... check with mummy in 20 minutes.?"
i've been away for a bit and today realized "wait! i used to read finslippy. is she still about?" the henry stories kill me - so funny and i can empathize. he and my son seem to be twins - perhaps it's the age? mine talks all the freaking time and has to tell me, in detail, about every little idea he has usually involving machines, robots, insects. i have not yet been let off the hook to let my mind wander - in fact last night i was dramatically accused of not caring. sigh.
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