Melon's the name

I recently had the pleasure of accompanying a group of parents and preschool teachers to the General Assembly to talk early education with our legislators. No, I don't love politics, but I do love people. Talking with these women and men was fascinating and I was able to learn so very much.

One thing I learned was that many young children enter kindergarten and continue on through elementary school not knowing the real names of their parents. These kids logically know their parents as "mom" and "dad," not Melanie and Jed. Many parents - myself including - do not consider the importance of teaching children our names and our addresses at such an early age. But how critical would it be if, God forbid, your child got lost on his or her first day of kindergarten and when asked by authorities, "Where do you live? What are your parent's names?," your child couldn't provide an answer...you might be in bigger trouble.

Moving forward in my enlightened state, I decided that this morning at the breakfast table I would engage Caleb in a conversation over cantaloupe/melon.

It went something like this...

"Caleb, how is your morning toast?"

"Mmmmmmm."

"Mommy is eating melon. It is yummy. Here, have a bite."

"Melon!" Cries out Caleb as he kindly refuses a bite. "Bread."

"Melon is so delicious. You know, mommy's name sounds like melon. My name is Melanie."

"Melanie. Melanie. Mmmmmmm," his eyes fixed on the melon.

So now the juicy fruit formerly known as melon will be referred to as "Melanie." Sigh. It was worth a shot.