Oh Captain, my Captain!

Marina at sunset
by Mari Ann

Charles and I recently brought the kids up to New Jersey for a visit. Traveling with Leif was endlessly entertaining. Our first stop was at my in-law's condo in Forked River. We arrived late in the evening, a little past the boy's bedtime, and put them to bed as quickly as possible. Leif awoke early the next morning, and looked out at the marina. "Look at all that water!" he exclaimed, "There must have been a flood!"

My in-laws took us sailing, and Charles was feeling sick and couldn't go. Knowing that I would probably end up holding Owen most of the sail, I wanted to make sure Leif understood that sailing was serious business and he had to listen to his grandparent's instructions. So, I explained that Papa was the Captain, and he was in charge, and would tell us what to do, and we must listen to him.

Leif & MyMy

However, the next time we got into the car, Leif announced that HE was the captain. So I asked, "Then who is daddy?" Leif said, "Daddy is just the driver. I tell him what to do." So, Leif earned the title, "Oh Captain, my Captain", and he still pulls the captain thing on me. Today getting in the car I told him to sit down and buckle his seatbelt, and he said to me, "I'm the Captain. I know what to do. Don't tell me what to do." You've just got to love 3 years olds.

Leif's two wonderful questions while sailing:
1) After tacking, he calmly asks me: "Are we going to sink now?"
2) Can we walk back?