A Sign of Things to Come?

I have often and freely admitted to family and friends, alike, that the teenage years, or the "alien years" as my mom would say, frighten me. What happens to that sweet angelic child who only a couple of years before cuddled with you and wanted to tell you every little thing about their day? That child who wasn't afraid to hug and kiss you in public or even acknowledge you?

Something very strange happens to children during those "alien years" and I am frightened to see it happen to my own sweet angels! I am incredibly thankful that Samuel, my eldest who will be the first to test those murky teenage waters, still hugs me and blows kisses to me at school, tells me he loves me, cuddles, cries, greets me with big smiles......

However......today I experienced my first taste of the future. It went like this.

Setting: In the car, driving home from school.

Me: "What did you do today, buddy?"

Samuel: "Um....I don't know."

Me: "What do you mean you don't know? What about the computer?"(his ABSOLUTE fav thing to do at school)

Samuel: "It was closed today."

Me: "So what did you do instead?"

Samuel: "Well...um....I....played with rice."

Me: "And what else?"

Samuel: "Um...well...I don't remember."

Me: "What do you mean you don't remember?"

Samuel: "I don't know. I did somefing."

*Fast forward through several more minutes of fruitless questioning*

Samuel: "Um, I did something with Mrs. Torres today." (Score! Finally an answer!)

Me: "Oh, yea?! What did you do?"

Samuel: "Um, I don't know."

Me: "What do you mean you don't know? You just told me you did something with Mrs. Torres today! Did you read a book? (no) Did you paint or draw in your journal? (no) Did you play a game? (no)"

Samuel: "Um, we built a tower."

Me: "Oh, a tower! That's great! What did you build it with?"

Samuel: "Somefing."

Me: "Wow....somefing, huh? Hmmm...wooden blocks? Legos? (No and no). Did anyone else build with you? Did Mrs. Torres help you?"

Samuel: "Uh, no. Mrs Torres didn't help me."

Me: "I thought you just said she built a tower with you!"

Samuel: "Well...she didn't. She helped someone else."

Me: "Oh. Well. Hmm."

*I finally give up and we continue home in silence as Samuel happily munches on his lunch.*

Please tell me this won't last!!