3 Year Old Proposes to Mom then Defines True Love

by The Allens
(Gibson, GA)

Yesterday evening at dinnertime Allen (3 ½ years old) was crawl-racing with his older sister towards the table. He tripped and landed on his face, banging his lip. It bled a little, but he was brave, and a bit of ice helped the situation tremendously.

Within a few minutes, Allen quipped, “Thank God the floor didn’t get broken.” He was referring to his crash-landing on our hard marble floor, seemingly more concerned about the floor than his swollen lip.

The others in our family finished dinner quickly, but as Allen was slowly sipping his ice water to bring down the swelling, I asked if he wanted me to feed him dinner.

Having three active children, it is not often I have one-on-one time with them. Our conversation went something like this.

Mommy:
How many brothers and sisters do you think is a good number to have? (Earlier we had been talking about different sizes in families.)

Allen:
Five.

Mommy:
Do you mean three sisters and two brothers, or two sisters and three brothers.

Allen:
One, two, three, four, five sisters and one, two, three, four, five brothers. That makes one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!

Mommy:
Wow, that’s a lot. Do you realize that because you are one of the oldest, you would need to help take care of them?

Allen:
Yes, but I will be grown up. Maybe I will have my own kids too.

Mommy:
What names do you think you will give your kids.

Allen:
(after a long pause). I don’t know.

Mommy:
Well, maybe you can let your wife help you choose the names.

Allen:
You can be my wife.

Mommy:
I am already daddy’s wife. But when you get older you can find a young lady who you love and who loves you, and both of you love God.

Allen:
(Reaching over and giving me a tight hug) That’s love.