Child Philosophers

Originally published: September 19, 2016

Photo credit: Skitterphoto (via Pexels)

"Why are beans white inside?" asked Juna, her mind genuinely pondering the nature of legumes over a plate of chili with a kind of direct curiosity that is so deliciously inherent to being five.

"I don't know," I replied. A smile crept into the corner of my mouth. "They just are. Why is the sky blue, hm?"

She gave me an involuntary smirk with eyes that proudly said "Touché." and sat there for a second, stumped, the little wheels in her head turning to come up with a fitting retort. 

A moment later, a hint of realization hit her — not the kind that bursts through your consciousness in a clear blaze of "Eureka!", but the murky light shining through the haze across the sea from some distant lighthouse that guides you.

"Why is salad green!" she exclaimed joyously. It was not a question — it was a statement.

"Why are clouds white!" added the next child.

And on it went, until we had all gone through practically everything edible and inedible at the table and beyond. Eventually, the conversation petered out and morphed into stories about our respective weekends and the wounds we now proudly sport like trophies of our reckless youth. They did not notice the breakthrough that had occurred, nor will they ponder it much hereafter. But today another stone was laid on the foundation of their intellect, and I know we are one step further in shaping the minds of tomorrow.