altruism averted

This is a picture taken of the kids while hiking at Fort Flagler this fall...

And a memorable conversation this morning... Naomi went outside to pick some of the last strawberries of the season that she spotted from the kitchen window. She came in with one nice large berry, and several small berries. Thoughtful enough not to eat the strawberry herself, but unsure of the level of her generosity, she asked...

"How will we split this big berry, mom?"

"We can split it like we split the berry at breakfast- into fourths."

"Hmmm. OK. Well, can I not have the fourth with the hole in it, please?"

"Who do you think should have the hole, then?"

"Um. I don't know- just not me."

"Well I want you to pick someone deserving, then, if you think it shouldn't be you."

"Well... How about you!"

"Oh. Why me?"

"Well, because you are nice!"

"Oh, I'm nice so I deserve the piece with the hole? And if I'm nice, what are you?"

"Well, I'm nice too. It's just, moms are the most nice. And they say things like 'oh I'll have the piece with the hole.' "

"What do you think you'll do when you are a mom?"

"Hmmm...... Well, I just won't plant any strawberries."