Hadley: Mama, I have a problem.
Me: What’s the problem?
Hadley: The problem is that I want to be a paleontologist when I grow up but I can’t be one.
Me: Why’s that?
Hadley: Because paleontologists are boys not girls.
Me (trying to stay calm): Girls can be paleontologists! Why don’t you think you can be a paleontologist?
Hadley: Because the one on Dinosaur Train is a boy. That’s the only one I know.
Me: You can be whatever you want to be when you grow up, Hadley.
Hadley: OK. Maybe I’ll move to Utah. They have rocks there, right?
Harper: I’m going to be a firefighter and I’m going to wear BLUE boots!
I’m finding all the good conversations happen in the car.
Love that! And I totally agree that all good conversations happen in the car!
Thanks, Mindy! I bet you have some great conversations while driving around! 🙂
at least she’s planning for the future. naomi has informed me that she may or may not work when she grows up. high on the career list: princess. fairy. she may never move out. and if it’s rocks hadley’s looking for, have her come to colorado. we also have firewomen here who i’m sure wear blue boots.
Naomi’s a girl after my own heart. I wanted to be Scarlet O’Hara. And I clearly remember telling my mom once that I hoped when I grew up I could go shopping for a living. That was in high school. And look how well I turned out?
That’s awesome! 🙂 Bedtime conversations are good ones, too! And I’m very impressed that she knows what a paleontologist is. (Ah, they learn so much from Disney Jr…lol!)
My girls haven’t mastered the bedtime conversations yet. They are still working on their stalling skills: “I have to go the bathroom. I need a drink of water. I want socks on. I don’t like these pajamas……” 🙂
Thanks to Dinosaur Train, my four-year-old son has the same career aspiration as your daughter.
We’ve had our share of good conversations in the car. Last Monday, the topic was eternal life!
I have to say, I LOVE Dinosaur Train!
Ah, yes, the eternal life conversations. That comes up in the car a lot, too! 🙂
I’m still floored that she knew the word “paleontologist.”
Hadley doesn’t mess around. The girl is scary smart. 🙂
When my nephew was younger and spent a lot of time with me, I found we had many of our best talks in the car. Not just that — but the heavy ones too. “Why do people take drugs?” and “What happened to G?” after we visited a cousin who’d suffered severe brain damage from mixing Ecstasy, marijuana, and coke. There’s something about talking to an 8-year-old about a topic like that while driving 65 mph that focuses the mind. I developed a theory that kids ask intense questions when they know you’re watching the road. I’m excited for you and all the good talks to come with your girls–keep a notebook!
I agree about the speed of the driving that focuses the mind. I like that. I think my responses are easier to give, too. There’s something soothing about all of us facing the same direction.
Tell Hadley that Calista wants to be a paleontologist too. (and a scientist, a mom, a teacher, and a runner. I’m not sure if it is luck or logic that none of the things on her list preclude any of the other things?)
Also, check out the Magic Schoolbus book about dionosaurs. I think that the paleontologist in it is female. Some of the video features at American History also feature women in related roles (geology, archeology, etc.). If you can catch anyone working in the visible dino bones lab (I can’t remember its real name) there are LOTS of women in there, too.
Hadley and Calista should make sure they keep in touch during their endeavors. 🙂 She’s also said scientist, mom, writer, and garbage man (woman). Thanks for the head’s up with the Magic Schoolbus, etc. We will be sure to check those out! We also want to go to that dinosaur dig in Maryland. Have you heard about that?
Yes, someone mentioned it to me at C’s school, but didn’t know a name, location, or any other info about it! We should plan a trip for the girls!