We have an analytical thinker in the house. My teenage daughter analyzes everything. She just sits and ponders the mysteries of the world. Last night, she had a revelation. It came to her that Dr Seuss' "Green Eggs & Ham" was not appropriate for small children. She announced her findings to me.
I am used to such proclamations. Before I let her explain, I reminded her that this book is critically acclaimed and one of the best selling children's titles ever. She was not swayed She insisted that this book encourages small children to give in to peer pressure.
According to her, the man in the story did not like green eggs and ham. Sam told him all the ways that he could have it--with a mouse in a house, in a box with a fox, etc. The man was firm in his decision. He did not want to try it. But Sam was relentless. He followed him around until finally the man agreed to try the meal.
My daughter says the man gave in to peer pressure. The green eggs and ham were street drugs--why else would the eggs have been green??? And after tasting the eggs, the man declared that he did, indeed, like green eggs and ham. When he made the announcement, he had a huge grin on his face. She says that this proves that he was high!
Where does she come up with this stuff?? Should I get help for her?
Your comments--priceless!!
Don't get that girl any "help" she is fine. And she may have stumbled on a good point - he did give in to peer pressure and it could have been drugs cause then he wanted green eggs and ham any way he could get them - therefore, maybe he did have an addiction to something. My son as a child was a penny pinching saving son-of-a-gun now he does the budget for one of the largest cities in the South. On the other hand my daughter lost her mind between 15 & 17 (boy crazy) and I was sure I was going to kill her shortly after her 17th birthday, however, now she's 32, a dentist, with a hubby and a 1 year old. Thank God I didn't kill her at 17 - I would have missed these last 15 years.
It is a good thing to have a child who thinks outside of the box! Being able to have the courage to question the accepted will help her throughout life to make well thought through decisions.
Whole nations have been brought down when the population was not allowed to have their own opinions, and to speak them aloud. Encourage her, but tell her to temper her opinions with an open mind!
Disclaimer--I used to be one of those kids and I have one of those kids.
You are truly an adult once the established norms have squeezed most of the creativity and innocence from your mind. Let her do her thing.
Your challenge is to play to the other side. For example...when is it appropriate to try new things? (food-ok, drugs-no)
If your daughter were a mom and her child did not want to try (milk, cereal, bread, etc.) what would she do?
When she has a grin on her face, does it always mean the same thing?
Don't discourage her. She indeed is a person that thinks outside the box...a non-conformist. I think that is great! She will not be one that follows the crowd, marches in line , just because someone says so. One day she will own her own company, campion an idea, be another Bill Gates...tell your daughter, "You go girl!"
Leave her alone!!!!! Donald Duck don't wear drawz, Bugs Bunny is a pervert, Foghorn Leghorn well we know he stalked that old hen, Olive Oyl don't know who her baby's daddy is. HAHAHA
You have a real thinker there and that is a good thing she sounds like a leader and not a follower plus she thinks about the meaning behind the story