When I was in fourth grade my high school aged sister had a friend who needed to ask me and my little sister “what a dream is”. I believe she was completing some sort of assignment for a class and was getting as many quotes from kids as she could.
I was reluctant to answer, but my sister and her friend were all, “just say the first thing that comes to your mind! Really! Just say anything!”
But it was such a trick question!
I knew they wanted me to say the first thing that came to my mind, but that first thing should probably be endearing and sweet! The first thing that comes to my mind should make them light up with the “that’s perfect!” face. I needed to be cute.
I froze.
“Kathy, it’s not a big deal, just…what is a dream?”
“I don’t know.”
“Kathy! Come on!! You know what a dream is…just explain it in your own words.”
Crap!
I couldn’t just tell them that a dream is what happens when you fall asleep…that it’s just sleeping and thinking about weird stuff at the same time.
“Anything Kathy!”
So. Much. Pressure.
“I don’t want to do this.”
“Come on! It’s not a big deal!”
I don’t know what kind of cute thing they want me to say. I will disappoint them with my answer. WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO ME?
“Dreams…are…like…clouds.”
There. That was cute and imaginative.
“Like…clouds?” they glanced at one another, “Okay. That’s your answer then? Clouds? No, that’s good.”
…I wonder what your kids would say…
Shay says
My little guy (5 years old) just said, “It’s something that you think about in your mind.” Hm, pretty straightforward for a kid who spends 1/2 hour telling me about how the rocks in his pockets are “little men who are on my side that will be able to scope out and find the bad guys when I take them out of my pocket and scatter them on the ground.”
Betsy says
I might just have to ask them. =)
Tracy P. says
I like what my husband says: It’s your brain taking out the garbage. :-)
Miriam Gomberg says
Hmmm…This is a good question to ask. Never really thought about it before. I love Kainoa’s answer.
Andrea says
I hate it when people put me on the spot like that. Dreams ARE like clouds. So there.