Importance of context

Gwenchik and I were walking our neighbor's dog, who was willing to do tricks for treats, which he loudly and enthusiastically chewed down.

Me: This dog reminds me of our favorite pig, who would gleefully chew down apples (in our house pigs are sort of semi-sacred animals treated with high respect, which is a long story)

Gwen: Yes, he does!

....

As we were returning the dog, Gwenchik happily explained to our neighbors that her mom compared their favorite dog to a pig. Well I had to go into a long-winded explanation to ease the awkward situation. Gwenchik was surprised that not everyone was as appreciative of the pigs as we are. Not sure what the neighbors think...

Let's talk about sex

As we were talking home from school, Gwenchik asked

Gwen: What is sex?

Me: Why do you ask?

Gwen: Everyone at school says that it is disgusting.

Me: Well it is not. It is a physical expression of love -- for example when people hug or kiss...

Gwen: Yes, they were right, it is disgusting! Do not tell me anymore.

.....

Hmm, when do you start talking to your kids about sex?

Learning to program

Gwenchik decided that she wants to program and George taught her how to make her first simple web page.

Gwen: Mom, look this is my first webpage.

Me: That is great! George it is wonderful that you are teaching our 7 year old!

Gwen: No he doesn't! He is just telling me what to do, that is all!

Millionaire dream

Gwenchik read somewhere about kids entrepreneurs, who made lot of money even before graduating high school.

Gwen: Wow, it looks easy. So what do you think I should do to became a millionaire?

Me: The only thing I can think of is programming cool apps for iPhone.

Gwen: Hmmm, but how will I get all my money? Will they know it is me? If yes, let's start today....

Taxes

Gwenchik's discussion about government leads to:

Gwen: Everyone pays taxes so we can policemen and fireman, right? Do policemen and firemen also pay taxes?

Grandma: Yes, of course.

Gwen: Now that is ridiculous! Are they paying for themselves? Just give them less money....

Coming of age

We were discussing about when Gwenchik would be old enough to get her OWN cell phone... and decided that the appropriate time would be when she "comes off age".

Gwen: So how old I need to be in the US

Me: Not sure, probably 18. I think it is actually 14 in Russia and 19 in Korea.

Gwen: Ok, than we have to move to Russia --- 14 is so much sooner!!!!

Korean feast

Lately I have had an obsession in all things Korean -- movies, kdramas, food. And it is starting to permiate to the rest of the family...

When we were in Toronto for New Year holidays we stopped at this beaten up restaurant with the most amazing Korean food. George and Gwenchik loved all the dishes! And we deiscussed about getting a Korean cookbook from the library and try cooking something easy.

Yesterday, George and Gwenchik slaved away for several hours in secret and surprised me with a phenomenal Korean dinned including bibimbap!!!!

Life

Gwenchik and I watched a wonderful Iranian movie "Children of heaven" -- about a 9 year old boy and his 7 year old sister and their adventures over a lost pair of shoes.

The movie was an eye-opener for my sever year old. The wonder of how Gwenchik couldn't comprehend that they only had one pair of shoes; that the boy enters the competition because he really want to win sneaker for his sister; the poverty;the way the children take the responsibility and try to resolve the problem without involving adults.... she was surprised and a bit shocked. And asked me mid movie -- is this a modern fairytale --- life can't be THAT bad.

Cinderella

From George. We were driving by a pizza shop called Cinderella's that caught Gwenchik's attention.

Gwen: Look, Papa, Cinderella's! But it can't be real. They didn't have pizza in those times. Cinderella is from a long time ago, when Mom was born.

Appreciation notes

We have had a few scandals lately with Gwenchik, and it just seems harder and harder to communicate with her (and she is just 7!!!). Than she got really sick last night, so I spent the night comforting her and in the morning I sent her off to watch a cartoon, so that I can get at least an hour or two of sleep.

After I woke up, as I was coming down the stairs I noticed yellow sticky notes all over the stairwell:

"you are the best Mom", "you take care of me so well", "I love you".... she spent most of that hour writing these notes.

Candy and the president

After collecting a ton of candy during the Halloween celebrations we decided to donate the candy to be sent to the troops in Iraq. While sorting the candy..

Gwen: Mom, are you sure the troops will get this candy?

Me: Yes, why?

Gwen: Who is in charge of the troops in Iraq?

Me: In general, the President.

Gwen: Well, they might get all this candy, but are you sure the President will not make rules that they can only eat one candy a day or no chocolate candies, for example?

Funny genes

Gwen: Genes are funny things.

Me: How so?

Gwen: Dad is nearsighted, and you are normal and now I am in between....

Sex

Gwenchik was telling me how her day went.

Gwen: Brandon, the boy who wants sex with me...

Me: WHAT? What sex?

Gwen: The regular one.

Me: What is sex? Regular at that?

Gwen: You are an adult and you do not know???

Me: Not really.

Gwen: Well, it is love.

Me: I think love and sex are two different things, that is why there are two different words; though often sex is an expression of love.

Gwen: You see, now you learning....

Birthday poem

Gwenchik got this beautiful poem from her uncle Roddy who is now in Moscow....

Gwyneth Lea Isabella you are growing up so fast

And I'm sitting here in Moscow just remembering the past.

You'd beg me to spin you round, like a one wing carousel,

"Ну ещё разочик Дядя!" - крик, как только я присел.

Когда б в гости ни приехал, даже в позднюю пору,

Прочитать просила сказку аль сыграть с тобой в игру.

А теперь ты ходишь в школу, и наверно всех умней,

Я надеюсь удивляешь всех своих учителей.

Здесь в Москве забавы много, время мало чтоб скучать,

Но на твоё День Ражденье очень я хотел попасть...

Подарить тебе подарок, погонять твоих гостей,

Торт с тобою приготовить, угостить твоих друзей,

Вечером как все уедут уложить тебя поспать,

А на утро недоспавши, в "разбужалки" проиграть.

Сможешь мне в стихах ответить, что ты делаешь теперь?

Чем играешь, с кем гуляешь и какую ломишь дверь?

Маму с Папой почетаешь? Слушаешся ли ты их?

Или делаешь как хочешь позабыв совсем о них?

Кто важнее, ты иль Мама? Who is stronger, you or Dad?

Скажи правду, не стесняйся, are you good or are you bad?

Marriage prospects

Gwenchik and a friend are watching a Russian cartoon " Konek-gorbunok" where an old king wants to marry a young princess.

Nika: I wouldn't marry him.

Gwen: He is fat, lazy and old -- even if he is a king.

My vs Moms

During the conversation regarding the best way to make the bed...

Gwen: I know how to make up my bed in two ways.

Ksenia: What are the two ways?

Gwen: One is MY way, the other is acceptable to my Mom.

From the goodness of your heart

A friend of mine is visiting us and we are redecorating our living room. On the side we decided to make a few change to Gwenchik's room which eventually grew to a lot of changes. We are discussing that for the upcoming birthday the major redecoration of her room is her presents because we really didn't plan on it and Ksenia is doing it " from the goodness of her heart".

Gwen: Ok, than I do not want the redecorated room.

Me: Do you want us to put everything back as it were.

Gwen: No, I want to keep the new room, I just do not want it as a present. I already know about the redecoration and I want a surprise.

Me: So all the effort and labor and new stuff that we are buying doesn't count as a present? How do you expect to keep the new room?

.....

Gwen: Hmmm, from the goodness of your hearts?

Birthday present check-in

Gwenchik is playing at the playground with her Dad and called me

Gwen: Mom, are you thinking about my birthday present?

Me: No yet, to be honest.

Gwen: Well, Dad isn't thinking about it and neither are you... so who IS thinking about my present?

Flawed counting

George was doing his push-ups and Gwenchik volunteered to help count.

Gwen: One, two... four.

George (breathing heavily) I already did seven!!

Gwen: Ok, ok -- let's start over again.

Little show off

On a playground in Moscow talking with a boy and his Mom:

Gwen: So in what country do you like to live in and what language is your favorite?

Boy: Russia, and of course, Russian -- why? (the boys was really surprised by the question, probably doesn't get many like this one)

Gwen: Well, I am just visiting Moscow, but I live in Boston and speak both Russian and English!

Boy's Mom: How lovely! So where do you like it best in Moscow or Boston?

Gwen: To be honest, in Toronto, Canada --- there are museums, swimming pools, etc....