It was a simple dinner; we were having leftovers. The Husband took The Boy to swim team practice, so The Girl, The Little Boy, & I were having leftovers for dinner. Simple. And it turned into so much more.
The conversation went something like this:
"I really do like the taste of it Mom, but I want to know who invented it." (the girl)
"I don't know who discovered it; we should look it up." (me)
"No Mom, was the person who named it a bully?" (the girl)
"Why would you ask that?" (me)
"Because of the name of the fruit; I feel sorry for it." (the girl)
"It's named that way because of the way it looks on the outside." (me)
"But Mom, that's what BULLIES do; they make fun of people who are different on the outside!!" (the girl)
It was at this point, my little sassy pants daughter scooped up the last of the ugli fruit in her bowl, & ate it like it was her last meal. She had juices dripping down her arms, & she was loving this experience like she does with most things. Her statement about the bullies 'inventing' the ugli fruit was so profound, it made me tear up a bit. It was at this moment that I was reminded that this little spitfire of a girl is my Wonder Woman. I am so glad that she listens even when I think she isn't listening. I am so glad that she speaks her mind, as we always know where we stand with her. I am so proud that she is so funny, so smart, & so confident. I can only hope that I am raising her to be a kind, smart, caring, loving, productive member of society who isn't afraid to be passionate about the ugli fruit.
I love her! The Binomial name for Ugli fruit is
ReplyDeleteCitrus reticulata × Citrus paradisi. I think Paradise Fruit is a much better name for it.