If you’ve ever listened to the perception of adult’s by a child, you will agree with me that most of the time, their thought pattern on what they perceive we do, act, look like, etc can be downright hilarious. One thing you can guarantee on their perception is that it is 100% honest 100% of the time.

For example, prior to transferring to Bridgewater, I worked in the city. One day when I had the kids to the city for an appointment, I took them to where I worked to introduce them to my co-workers. I showed them where I worked, how I got there, where my office was, etc. As we were in the car heading back home, my oldest Meaghan (who would have been six at the time) started asking me what it was that I did. Most employees perceptions of Managers is that they don’t do anything and by golly, do you think I could explain my job to a six year old? So I said that if people need help, they come to me and I help them, show them what to do, if they need a day off them come to me, etc. Meaghan interrupts me and says, you are a boss??? I said well yes honey, that is what I do….well you would have thought it was just announced that her mother was the Queen of England, this huge smile came across her face and for a week straight, no matter who she saw she told them that her mother was a boss a top a tall building in Halifax.

Just this past Easter, I…oh excuse me, I mean the Easter Bunny brought my children each a few outfits to go with their mounds of candy. Nice spring and summer outfits because of course, great weather was just around the corner. My youngest, who was three, got a Capri and tank top set. When she found the secret spot the easter bunny had hidden her outfit she started jumping up and down and said “look mommy, the easter bunny brought me a exercise shirt just like you”. See because I take the girls to the gym with me and I’m usually always wearing a tank top, Sydney could not associate it with anything other than the gym.

Which brings me to my conversation with Meaghan (who is now almost eight) last night on the way home from Brownies. Now I’m not going to write everything that she said but you’ll get the gist. The radio was on and there was a song that has a line about a solider in a civil war. She said oh that reminds me of someone in the city that was in the war. I chuckled and said who? She said, oh you know the one who doesn’t like my friends who look different from me. Completely baffled at this point, I said, Meaghan what are you talking about. When she started explaining the story, I realized that she was talking about someone who was racist. Now the only way she would have known this is because she overheard me talking to someone because she has never met this person so wouldn’t know who he was from a hole in the ground. I tried to explain how this person was just a disgruntled person but she wasn’t getting it. So I said, well he doesn’t even like people who are fat (which is true)…Meaghan said, “Really?? He doesn’t like you….but everyone should like you” Complete silence….now don’t get me wrong, I know I’m big but I hate to hear it and of course, through the eyes of the child I can picture I look like the marshmallow man on Ghostbusters.

So if you ever want a honest reality check, ask a child!!!!