Anand battles the sea — he gave up on the moated fortress approach, and tried to just sit where he was going to get hit by waves.
Anand (laughing): Why are the waves so aggressive??
Me: The ocean wants to be sure you know it loves you. It is giving you a big wave-hug.
Anand: But why does the ocean need to hug so hard?
Me: The ocean says if you didn’t want such big hugs, why are you sitting exactly at the big hug spot? If you go a little bit up the beach, or a little bit into the water, you won’t get such big hugs!
Anand: But why does the ocean hug so hard at all?
Me: The ocean says that’s not its fault — you should talk to the wind. The wind is what’s making the waves so big today.
Anand: I feel like your analogy is breaking down, now that the wind is getting involved.
Me: No, the wind is…like your enthusiastic friend, who is trying to convince you to go talk to the girl you like. “Go on, ocean, let Anand know how you really feel. Let him know you LOVE him. I’ll help!”
Anand: Maybe the wind shouldn’t get involved.
Me: And again, the ocean says, if you don’t want the big hugs, why are you sitting in the big hug spot???
*****
Yes, this is the kind of conversation I have with Anand ALL THE TIME. That kid will poke at the logic of a conversation until it gives up and thumps the floor in concession — but his mother has been known to be just a wee bit stubborn. It makes things…interesting.