Assumption

Take a close look at what my son brought home from kindergarten.

No wonder the teacher wanted a meeting with me!

(click on picture to enlarge)

You know what they say about assuming . . .

Now I have to ask, what is your interpretation of this picture? Think about it before you read the following dialogue.

Mom: Christian, did you make this picture in school today?

Christian: Oh yes! Do you know what this says? (pointing to the sideways printing next to GW)

Mom: Kind of OK?

Christian: Yes (proud that he wrote it all by himself phonetically, and that I could read it)

Mom: Tell me about this picture. Why does it say 'kind of OK' for George Washington?

Christian: Oh, because he has bows on his clothes. And I like Abraham Lincoln the best because he has a top hat.

Mom: Oh! (wasn't expecting that!). What about President Obama? Why did you write BAD?

Christian: Oh, because he doesn't have a lot of hair and he's almost bald.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

I was very happy to report back to the teacher that my little boy was NOT making a political statement in kindergarten. And the beard, by the way, was started by a little girl sitting next to him. I can tell you that Christian truly does NOT like buzz cuts. Last summer his friend got one and I mentioned that we should do it to Christian and he immediately protested. I even reminded him that Uncle Steve has one, and he is a cool policeman. Christian agreed that he is a cool policeman, but he still abhors buzz cuts!

This has been a great lesson on jumping to conclusions and making assumptions. The workings of a child's mind is ever-so-fascinating!

Never assume.