The scene: We have somebody coming to look at our house soon. The realtor told us that the person really liked our garage. In preparation of the showing, I want to go to the garage and spend some time cleaning it up and really show how much room there is in there. Tyler and I have gotten dressed and are getting ready to come down the stairs. At the last moment, I realize that we forgot to grab socks.

“Wait, Tyler. We need to get some socks first.”

“Okay daddy.”

We walk back into Tyler’s room. I grab a pair of socks for him and then go to my room to get a pair of socks for myself. As we start to go down the stairs, I ask Tyler if he can carry his socks.

“Uhm, sure. Then we put them on, and we go outside and play play play.”

We continued down the stairs. Unbeknownst to me, Tyler was busy pondering something. I turned to look at him and saw that he had a bit of a smirk on his face. I wondered whether I should ask what he was thinking about or let him finish his thought process. As I watched, he raised his socks above his head and started to swing them at me.

“Daddy, I’m gonna sock you with my socks!”

And then he did.

The scene: Tyler is at an age where he sometimes wants to play alone. This transition is strange for Sarah and myself. We sometimes just sit on the floor, wondering what to do. On this particular day, I decide to clean up my email inbox while Tyler plays with his Iron Man and Silver Spiderman toys. Moments later, he’s bouncing on Delilah’s back, trying to ride her like a horsey. Just as quickly, he switches gears again, jumps in my lap and gives me the world’s best hug and kiss.

Tyler: “I love you, daddy.”

Me: “I love you too, buddy.”

Tyler: “You da best daddy, ever.”

Me: “Thank you Tyler. You’re the best Tyler ever.”

Tyler bounds away with his superhero toys and begins playing by the big window in the living room. I return to my inbox. A minute or two later, he stops playing.

Tyler: “Open it.”

I wasn’t aware he was speaking to me, so I continue my activity.

Tyler: “Daddy, I have idea.”

Me: Oh yeah? What’s your idea?”

Tyler: “Open a window up.”

Me: “Oh, Tyler, it’s too cold and windy. We need to leave the windows closed.”

Tyler: “Is a bug on a window. Open it up. I wanna kill it.”

I glance over to see a boxelder bug on the outside of the window.

Me: “You want to kill that bug?”

Tyler: “Yeah. SMASH it!”

Let’s hope he never looks to Lizzie Borden as a role model. I’m slightly frightened.