Goofybots and Stinkerdoodles

"Mommy, what's inside the moon?" The question caught me off guard but Patrick was standing there clearly waiting for an answer. I considered. What was inside? "Rocks," I told him, "Lots of rocks." Paddy thought about this for a second. "Are there trails on it?" he replied. Again I was scrambling. How do I define trails? Lots of rocky paths? Following footprints from astronauts? "Yes, there are some trails," I decided. Patrick walked away, apparently satisfied, on to other things again.

I still sat there wondering about his question. Half the fun with kids is re-examining the world around you through their eyes. This time I was less prepared than others. How did Patrick know that the moon was a sphere, not a disk? Why would he wonder what was inside the sphere? How did he know it wasn't the size of a tennis ball, or a balloon, or even a trampoline? Big enough for trails? I didn't remember letting him know any of this. He was willing to accept, with absolutely no proof, that the moon was filled with rocks and had hiking trails. It takes a leap of faith to do that. Something that we as adults have trouble doing. (Yup- I always want proof!) Faith as a little child, indeed.