"Mama how much do you love dinosaurs?"
"What?"
"How much do you love dinosaurs?!" my 8 year old was looking at me inquisitively, I didn't see the diary she was hiding behind her back.
"Well, let's see...I love dinosaurs maybe...8 out of 10" I responded.
As soon as I said 8 out of 10 she pulled the diary out and flipped it open to a page where she drew a three dimensional raptor with pencil. I was absolutely amazed by the technical skill, time, and focus I could tell she devoted to this drawing as it was much more advanced than anything else she has shown me. I especially noticed all the eraser marks around the head and hands. "The head and the hands were the hardest part" she proceeded to explain to me. I nodded in awe, "It's amazing".
Next time a child asks you how much do you love dinosaurs be sure to tell them 10 out of 10. I can't take back my comment and every time I think about the raptor drawing I get a little heavy feeling in the top of my chest. Why did I say 8? What kind of parent am I anyhow?!
Lesson learned, Mama.
I love dinosaurs but until now, I am still not sure if they really existed or not .