My Little Philosopher

My husband called to report this morning’s conversation on the way to day school:

Monkey: Who made the world?
DearDR: God did.
M: Who made the world with god?
DDR: No one. God made it all by god’s self.
M: We’re nice people. Did god make nice people?
DDR: Yes.
M: Did god make bad people?
DDR: [pause]
M: Daddy! Did god make bad people?
DDR: I don’t know.
M: Bad people are just pretend.
DDR: No, bad people are real.
M: Why are people bad?
DDR: Bad people are people who choose to do bad things. And good people are people who choose to do good things.

He didn’t report Monkey’s response to that. It seems the concept of free will is pretty heavy for 4-and-a-half-year-olds.

This is the type of conversation that gets parents asking, “Where do kids come up with this stuff?”

But I think I know exactly where Monkey came up with this one: The Backyardigans Super Secret Super Spy. Uniqua plays the “evil” character Lady in Pink. (Classic lines: Pablo as Agent Secret, on The Lady in Pink’s Tickle Chair: “Do you expect me to talk?” Uniqua: “No, Agent Secret. I expect you to laugh.”) I surmise this because here’s the conversation I had with Monkey last night as we were noshing on some cherries:

M: (singing) I’m the Lady in Pink! Me, me, me, me, me!
RPM: You’re the lady in orange, actually.
M: (singing) I’m the Lady in Orange! Me, me, me, me, me!… I’m going to be evil.
RPM: Oh no you’re not.
M: It’s okay to be evil.
RPM: (rather shocked) It’s not okay to be evil!
M: Oh.

And where would she get the idea it’s okay to be evil? Aside from the Backyardigans, of course.

When we played superheroes, when I was a kid, I always wanted to be Catwoman. Maybe it’s genetic.