Our dinner table often resembles the opening segment of “The View”, but with small interrupting boys instead of loud, interrupting women. Recently the boys were discussing good artists they know. That is to say, their teachers. The almost 4 year old does not like to be left out. What follows is his contribution to the discussion.
A4YO: Mrs. Winston draws good pictures, too.
Me: Who is Mrs. Winston?
A4YO: You know, Mrs. Winston.
Me: Who is Mrs. Winston? Is she from church?
A4YO: No. Not church.
Hubs: At preschool?
A4YO: No. (insert condescending chuckle)
Me: I’m wondering about this Mrs. Winston. Is she at the boys’ school? (sidebar to older brothers reveals no such person exists at the local public school).
A4YO: You know, Mrs. Winston.
I’m beginning to suspect this Mrs. Winston is completely made up and sad that it took me this long to figure it out.
Me: Tell me more about this Mrs. Winston.
A4YO: The one who lives with JACOB (slightly exasperated, definitely incredulous that I am unaware of the elusive Mrs. Winston).
Me: Who is Jacob?
A4YO: He lives with Mrs. Winston.
Me: I got that part, but who is Jacob?
A4YO: The one in the red shirt! (obviously)
Me: Ok, but who is this Mrs. Winston who lives with Ja—……who wants dessert?
I know when I’m beaten.
———
Sometimes you let them win, but sometimes you have truth on your side. I now offer you Example B.
We’re in the van on the way to SportChek. A4YO announces that busses are really a truck.
Me: Well, they LOOK big like a truck, but they’re not, they’re a form of transportation
A4YO: Actualleeeeey, no. They are a truck.
Me: Nope. They are a type of vehicle.
A4YO: Well, actualleeeeeey, they are a truck.
Me: You might think they are a truck, but they are a different vehicle.
A4YO: Actualleeeeeeey, they really are trucks.
Me: A truck would carry cargo or something, busses are for people. Vehicle.
A4YO: No, actualleeeeeey, you’re wrong.
Me: You think I’m wrong, but I’m right. Vehicle.
A4YO: I know, they are trucks.
Me: You can keep saying it, but it doesn’t make it true. Type of vehicle. (insert slightly hysterical sing-song voice).
A4YO: Actualleeeeey, no. You’re wrong.
Actually, I’m just going to accept that a preschooler’s mind cannot be changed. Even in the face of indisputable truth.
Tough Bananas 
Does Mrs. Winston drive a truck?
“Yes, and it’s blue. She has a car and a truck and van and a house on the ceiling of her truck.” Apparently she also lives with someone named Bob.