“You know mommy? I’d like to have a jellyfish for a pet. That would be very cool!”
Crochet Jellyfish designed by Rachelle Smith. You can purchase this pattern through her blog at http://yahrrrnpirate.blogspot.com
My son pauses in thought in the back seat. “They look so cool floating in the water.”
On the way home in the car is where a great many of my now 11 year old son’s greatest ideas and our ensuing conversations take place. Many of them lend to the rather extra-ordinary or even surreal vs. your average, run of the mill kind of small talk between kids and parents.
Subjects range anywhere from “I wonder what the biggest splinter in the world would be?” to “What if the biggest rainstorm was a drizzle,” to “What if we had a time machine but no one else could have one,” “What if there were zombie crickets,” or “I wonder what would happen if you microwaved gun powder?”
And sometimes more ordinary vocal expulsions escape his cranium, like how he’s pretty sure that every time he’s hungry he sees a Burger King. (I don’t know why – we don’t eat there, and I don’t like fast food.)
“Germaine’s Bestie” crochet jellyfish created by VintageNettles using Sarah Ohern’s “Jacob the Jellyfish Amigurumi Pattern.” You can find VintageNettles’ blog at http://nettness.net. Click on the photo above to purchase Sarah’s pattern at http://www.esshaych.blogspot.com
Anyway, I’ve gotten (mostly) used to his sudden outbursts of thought (or song) from the passenger seat and try to follow along. I’m beginning to think I should write a book titled, “Viewpoints From the Passenger Seat,” or something like that. Maybe help pay for some of the grey hairs it’s earned me too.
“Hmmmm…” I start to reply thoughtfully. He doesn’t always start out with a subject I have much comment on, but this time he did.
“I wonder if jellyfish are legal to own as pets?” I start out. “You know… I always wanted to have a big salt water tank with sea anemones and such. The kind of tank that’s built into a wall. You know – like the one we saw at that hospital? Only thing is, I know they are expensive to maintain. I’ll have to be a lot wealthier before I can do that.” A little sigh escapes my lips.
“You know, Mommy?” my son starts again. “What if a whole house was made up of a fish tank? Like the whole house is a fish tank? THAT would be REALLY cool!”
Raising my eyebrows, I look quizzically into the rear view mirror. 
“Sounds like an aquarium to me,” I say.
“Noooo,” my son quickly corrects me.
“No, like the walls are all built with fish tanks instead of regular walls. And even the plumbing would be covered in glass and if there’s a problem with the pipes, you could just see it. And fish would be swimming all over your house through all the places there would normally be walls! And you could see right through the walls to the fish swimming in the other room!”
Quietly, oddball mental images form in my mind from his descriptions. All the while, I simultaneously focus on not losing physical sight of the road I’m driving either.
Ever try to both imagine a mental picture and see to maneuver something physical at the same time? Not really the easiest combo. And my son’s descriptions are so vivid and off-the-wall at times that it really can be a challenge to listen and yet not lose sight of the physical world while I try to follow his conversation. (Honestly, there are times when I’m tired that I just have to shut off the ears while I drive.)
“So how would that work?” I ask. “What happens if someone throws a rock, or there’s a hail storm or a tree falls over on it? What then,” my wicked little smile playing in the rear view.
“MOMmy,” he says. “I said it would be cool, not practical…! What do you take me for?”
I bust out laughing!
I don’t know son. I guess I don’t really know! 
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Fab piece!! Your son is blessed with a mighty imagination! 😀 Thank you too for linking to my blog 😀
Hi Sarah,
Thanks again for permission to do so and for dropping by to read! Inclusion of your pattern was a nice accent!
Blessings,
Julia
The imagination of kids is so wonderful and fun! If I were a painter I’d love to create this house on paper!
If you ever do, I’d love to see it and show my son!
What a mind boggling post! I love the way your son thinks – the world tries to squash out pretty much all of that cool thinking and then we’re all left with boring gantt charts and stuff. Yay KID.
My 11 YO son has discovered (oops, I showed him) how to plug the cassette adapter into his cell phone so I get treated to special music mixes driving home that are a combo of Fast and Furious Music, Black Eyed Peas, and a true mixture. LOVE IT.
See you on LeadershipFreak, Julia!!
Yes, he is something else. His mind is constantly going. He used to get in trouble at school when he was little because as he put it, there were pictures of things he needed to build that wouldn’t leave his head alone. He builds constantly. I’m thinking about starting him a blog so he can have a way of sharing (and recording) his creations. And as a sneaky way to get him to (willingly) do more writing.
You know it doesn’t just seem that creativity tends to get squashed out of kids, but boyhood as well. I’m pretty thankful for “The Dangerous Book for Boys.”
It’s always a pleasure to see your cheerful gravatar Paula! Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment!
Blessings,
Julia
I especially like your last paragraph – and I did start a blog – two in fact – just a few months ago! I always write letters to my children at Christmas – sometimes more often, but at least once a year. They know their letters will be in their stockings! Probably wouldn’t do anything you said not to – just a little bit inhibited! But that’s just me. Congratulations on being freshly pressed!
Best feeling ever!!! Always puts a smile on my face
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Take him to Dan’s Hamburgers, fresh ground every day and if you ask for it you can get cheddar instead of American cheese and you can get grilled onions too. No chili )0; though. I’ll have to wait till LA for Pink’s or Tommy’s.
I love his brain. Are you sure he’s not a sculpture? Engineering skills come in handy for that too. See what he thinks of my sister http://www.bethsahagian.com http://www.vanguardsculptureservices.com on the other hand engineers often make more money.
LOL. 🙂 He strips apart electronics to make things. You could say it’s sculpting, all with the aim to make a working “thing.” He wants to get into robotics.
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