Boy: Why does a boat float?
Me: Ask me tomorrow (makes a note to do some research)
The next morning…
Boy: Why does a boat float?
Me: A boat, or any object, floats because it’s lighter than the weight of the water it displaces.
Boy: But some boats are heavy.
Me: Yes, but if they’re boats that float, they’re not as heavy as the water they displace.
Boy: What’s “displace” mean?
Me: Um, it sort of means to move something out of the way. If you have a cup of water that’s filled all the way to the top, and you put a rock in the cup, some of the water will spill out of the cup. That water that spills out is the water that was displaced by the rock. And because the rock doesn’t float, that means that the rock is heavier than the water that spilled out. I’ll show you next time you’re in the tub.
Boy: Where does water from the ocean go when it spills out?
Me: … Let’s watch TV.
May 28th, 2009
Ah, the old “redirect” method. You’ve learned well, and on the first child too. It’s smooth sailing from here on out.
May 28th, 2009
You’re on your way to becoming a true Jedi Master when you are able to deflect those kinds of questions.
May 28th, 2009
You know, The Boy asks excellent questions!
May 29th, 2009
I am married to an IT guy. You people are funny….
May 29th, 2009
At least you actually made an attempt to answer.
I’m proud of you Omar!!!
May 29th, 2009
i’ll bet discovery channel has a program explaining that.
May 31st, 2009
Good answer. J and I make a great team because he gives the great lessons like you did on displacing and whatnot, and I’m really good at the “Let’s watch tv” part. You’re like a power parenting team, all in one!
Sorry you have such a smart kid. I know how annoying it can be sometimes.
June 3rd, 2009
Awesome. Now you just have to teach him how to Google.
June 4th, 2009
I am so glad Anabella isn’t asking questions like that yet. Her’s are still limited to “can I have some chocolate milk?” or “did you have a good day at work?”
Thanks for posting on my b-day!
June 8th, 2009
I think that the most impressive part of your training of the boy is that you can simply say, “Ask me tomorrow.” and he accepts that as a temporary answer. Simply brilliant.
When he asks about flying and you explain the Bernoulli principle, I think a good example would be to drive 180 mph on your street and have him stick his head out the window so he can feel what wind pressure feels like at 180. I am going to be an awesome parent.
June 15th, 2009
Bubba the cat demands a new post!
June 16th, 2009
That’s a good question. In fact, an excellent question. I have no idea what happens to the water. Maybe the rising sea levels have nothing to do with melting glaciers and everything to do with too much stuff in the ocean. It’s ponderous, man. Real ponderous.
June 18th, 2009
May 28th? Seriously Omar. Where you at??
June 19th, 2009
OS 3.0 That’s all you have to say.
June 23rd, 2009
Almost a month.
Withdrawal.
Cannot you at least throw the bone of a photo contest?
I still stand by my idea of a view inside the fridge.
June 23rd, 2009
Tomorrow is WTF? Wednesday and you will be my subject matter if you don’t post!
June 24th, 2009
Congratulations on reaching the threat stage of not posting! I think you’ll find such threats almost entirely unmotivating. I’d like to officially welcome you to the Once a Month Club!
June 25th, 2009
See, you’re lucky. The one asking me that question is 12, and knows all about google and Wikipedia. I tell him something and he looks it up ‘to make sure’ I know what I’m talking about
I have to agree, you need to post more. Great stuff.