I tried a thing with OWen tonight that we hadn’t tried for a long time : night-time questions in the dark in bed after lights out.  In this scenario, Owen can ask any question under the sun and I’ll do my best to answer as honestly as I can.

Tonight’s first question:

“Dada, I know its kind of a bad word.  I heard it at school, but what’s a ‘dick’?”

“Well Owen,” I replied, “its another word for penis and you’re right its often used as a bad word.”

“Oh.”

Second question:

“Dada, what’s a gaoler?”  (NB, I’ve sort of given the game away because of the spelling I’ve used here)

“Well, its a person who works in a jail, and whose responsibility it is to look after the prisoners – make sure they’re fed and kept in line.  That sort of thing.”

“Oh. Well because there’s a gaoler <”jailer”> in the Tale of Despereaux whose name is Gregory.  He had a rope to keep him safe, to lead him through all the mazes in the dungeons.  But he died.”

“Are you worried about Gregory, or maybe being like Gregory, or something?”

“No.”

“Are you ok?”

“Yep. Night night Dada”

“Night night lovey”

<kiss to forehead>