Just now I was helping Huck get out the door for school, something any parent can tell you is torturous, and as usual he began a conversation that I would love to have at any other time of day.  This morning he asked, “Tell me again why Shana is here this time?” and I explained that she’s directing a musical called “Spring Awakening.”  As I shoved his coat onto his torso, he asked what it was about and I said, “Teenage angst.”  As I thrust his very heavy Perry the Platypus backpack into his skinny arms he asked what that meant, and I launched into a beautiful yet fast-paced description of what teenagers feel, saying it’s like an introduction into adulthood while still being dependent on your parents.  As I pushed his body toward the front door he said, “Oh, so like if I have a job in high school that doesn’t take out my taxes?” And then time stopped.  Laughter overtook my sleepy body as I became suddenly aware that I have been accidentally teaching Huck that grown-up stress boils down to whether or not taxes are taken out of paychecks.  It might make a good musical.

Finally I reset my internal timer, wiped the laugh-tears from my eyes and began rushing him along again.  As he bent down to adjust his sneakers I told him he was reminding me of a standup comic.  While down on the ground he gave me one of his great kid smiles and said, “More like a sit-com.”

Pretty good day so far.