Great Minds...

As I was getting ready to start dinner, I saw Danny opening the snack cabinet.  I told him , "Don't eat anything, I'm about to cook dinner."  He said, "I'm not.  I'm putting the pretzels back because I saw that you were."  I said, "See?  We think alike!"  He said with a sigh, "We don't think alike, Mom.  For starters, I like President Nixon and you don't."
(12/4/14)

The Outgoing Message

James and I were sitting together talking when the home phone began ringing.  Knowing that besides my mother, only telemarketers called the land line, I let the answering machine pick up.  Upon hearing the outgoing message, James said to me, "Mom, did you ever notice that the voice on the machine sounds a lot like yours?  That's so weird."
I said, "James, that is my voice.  I recorded the message on the machine. "
He said, "Ooooooh, I thought the message came with the machine.  I always thought the voice was familiar, but I didn't think that you could record it yourself."  I  then said, "Didn't you notice that the message says ' You've reached the Brennan family' ?"  He said, "Yeah, I thought that was even weirder than the machine sounding like your voice."  (10/25/14)

The iPod Songs

When Danny first started showing an interest in music, he came to me asking for some song suggestions for his iPod.  Being that Tom knows very little music outside of the Classic Rock genre, specifically the "Lynard Skynard" station on Pandora, I felt that Danny made the wise choice in enlisting my help.  He said, "Mom, do you have any hip hop or rap music that I could put on my iPod?" 
I searched the music data base in my head, examined my iPod for some possible candidates, and came up with some classic, fun hip hop songs that I thought he'd enjoy.  I took his iPod and uploaded the clean versions of "Without Me" by Eminem, "Bust a Move" by Young MC, "Just a Friend" by Biz Markie, "Girls" by the Beastie Boys, among others.  
Later that evening, I asked him, "How did you like the songs I put on for you?"
He replied in a less than enthusiastic way,  "They were okay."
"Okay?! Wow, I'm surprised because I thought those songs would be perfect for you."
 "Well, I liked the song Dad put on my iPod much better than the ones you put on.  His rap song was really good."
Unable to imagine Tom knowing any rap song, let alone one he already owned,  I asked with shock, "Dad put a rap song on your iPod?!  What song was it?",   
Danny replied, "White and Nerdy by Weird Al Yankovic".

The Napkin

While eating dinner, Tom reached for his napkin, but accidentally started grabbing the one belonging to James.  James quickly grabbed it and Tom said, "Oh.  That's yours. Sorry."  Then he rhetorically stated, " I don't understand why people are so possessive over napkins.  I don't even care if I have a napkin."
James, in an expressionless voice, countered with,  "Wow.  That explains a lot."
(4/4/14

The Sidekick

James and I were sitting quietly in the living room when he asked, "Mom, if you were a superhero, would you want a sidekick?"
I said, " I don't know.  Would you be my sidekick?"
He said, "Nah.  I'm more of a solo guy."
(4/2/14)

That "Guy"

Danny has a habit of starting a conversation in mid thought.  I often have no context by which to fully understand his question or statement. 
Just recently Danny, James, Katie, and I were in the car for quite a long ride.  After a few different conversations, we sat quietly listening to the radio for a few miles.  Then Danny suddenly asked, "Mom, who is that guy that you always ask for help?'
I laughingly replied, "Ummm, your dad?"
He said, "No. Really. I mean that guy that you sometimes ask for help with stuff.  Remember that time we were really late and you couldn't find a parking spot, so you asked that guy?"
Realizing what he was referring to, I asked him, "Do mean St. Anthony?  When I need help finding something?"
He excitedly replied, "YEAH! That's him!"
(3/27/14)

Grease is More Appealing Than Love

I took Katie and James with me to run a few errands.  It was after noontime when we were finished, and they both said that they were getting hungry. 
I said, "I'll make you lunch as soon as we get home."
James suggested, "Why don't we go out for lunch?'
Knowing that I had kid-friendly "treat" lunches at home, and always looking for the healthier alternative to fast food, I said, " I'll make you chicken nuggets and french fries at home."
James said, "They have that at Wendy's."
I replied, "Yes. Well, I make mine with love."
Without missing a beat, James deadpanned, "Yeah, well they make theirs with grease."
(3/22/14)

The Note

I found this note from Danny taped to my bedroom door.  Of course, being the wonderful mom that I am, I decided to "be a bro" and get the knee pads from Modell's that very same day.  I think it is safe to assume that it was "super cool" of me. (1/31/14)

The Political Discussion

     Danny is a very opinionated kid, and lets everyone know his viewpoint at every turn.   He is continually spewing his political opinions and I am constantly getting sucked into the debate, despite my better judgement.  Even those times that I happen to agree with his views, we never seem to be on the same side of the argument.  Tonight at dinner, he started in on his usual rant and once again, I bit; but I quickly ended the discussion.  I said, "Danny, I've told you many times that I don't want to have these political debates and I am very aware of your opinion.  I don't need to be reminded of it during dinner every night.  I am happy to hear about your day and what is going on in your life, but I don't want to have the same volatile conversation every day."  Not backing down, he said,  "Mom, in our house we can discuss things.  I'm just trying to have a conversation.  You're taking away my rights." 
"What?!  What rights am I taking away from you?"
"My freedom of speech."
"Well, your freedom of speech is going to be limited in this house so I can have a pleasant dinner"
He picked up his plate, brought it over to the counter and said, "Sheesh!  Kim Jong-Mom."
(1/23/14)