Last week, I was eating my dinner and Caleb came to join me at the table. I had steamed a fish that night and he pointed to the fish and he started a conversation about the fish.
Caleb: Mummy, is that the fish bones?
Mummy: Yes
Caleb: Is it hard?
Mummy: It's hard, see... ( I poked at the fish head to show him)
Caleb: Mummy! Why did you eat the fish?
Mummy: oh, coz fish is good for us. It gives us strong bones.
Caleb: but... but... it's my friend... that one... Mummy, why did you eat my friend, the fish???
Mummy: (Huh! Great! I ate his friend!!!??!!) eh.... well.... welll... but u ate the fish for dinner too right?.. (Ya, I know, not the best answer to give him... but I really didn't know what else to say..)
Caleb: but... it's my friend... why you eat my friend.... ( ya, and he went on and on for a while muttering to himself and sounding quite dismayed...hopefully I'm not creating any fish phobia in him)
Last night, again we had fish for dinner. This time round, I pan fried some fish fillet. I had actually finished the plate of fish when he came to the table to join me. This time he pointed to the empty plate and started going on about the fish again!
Caleb: Mummy, where's the fish?
Mummy: In my tummy.
Caleb: Mummy, why you eat the fish? It's my friend! Why did you eat the fish, my friend?
Mummy: (Oh great! Here we go again!) Um... well, I didn't know it was your friend so I ate it up. Why is the fish always your friend?
Caleb: Ya Mummy, it's my friend... that one... (and he starts sounding a little upset again)
Mummy: Well, I've eaten it up... so what do you want me to do?
Caleb: Take it out of your tummy and put it back... then I can see my friend the fish again.
Mummy:................ (well, I really didn't know how to answer him... so I did something that I usually don't do... I pretended I didn't hear him and carried on with my dinner. Ya, maybe I didn't handle it well BUT, I really don't know what else to tell him! Anyway, he moved on to another topic when he didn't get any response from me.)
I really don't know what is it about the fish and it being Caleb's friend. I mean, whoever planted that idea into his head??!! Whatever it is, I guess I'm fine as long as he's still eating fish and don't show any dislike for it. Ha! Or maybe I should look on the bright side and be happy that my son feels such great compassion for the fish.
