Adventures with a 6-year-old

As most of you know, I'm not a big fan of kids. I don't have the slightest inclination to have one of my own, and I can't help feeling a little sorry for every new parent I meet. I know it sounds bad, but it's an automatic, visceral reaction.

Recently, my 6-year-old niece has helped me begin to understand why others might feel differently...

My niece Kami was the first baby born to anyone in my immediate family. Since my sister and I have a close relationship, everyone assumed that her child would somehow activate my maternal instincts. In reality, even my aunternal instincts were a little slow to kick in.

Then, sometime during Kami's fifth year on this planet, she started transforming into a fascinating mini-adultish person who now has me completely captivated. I don't know if I feel this way because she is family or because she is really as interesting as I think. I'll let you be the judge.

Here is Kami as she explains the logic of a 6-year-old making a difficult choice to give up something she loves. Notice her facial expression as she contemplates life without barbie dolls:



In this scenario, she is hypothetically forced to do one of two things she would hate: