What’s your name and how old are you?

On Friday I took the girls to the library for a bit.  Brinley loves books and really enjoys going to the library to pick out new ones to borrow.  Nora, on the other hand, just wants to take all of the books off the shelves and make a mess.  Thankfully they have some toys there too to keep her occupied.

Anyway, as I was browsing the shelves for some books that might interest Brinley, I noticed her walking over to a little girl that was looking for some books of her own.  Brinley went right up to her and said:  “Hi!  My name is Brinley and I’m three and a half.  What’s your name and how old are you?”  This has become her new phrase of choice when we go anywhere and she sees/meets someone new.  She asks the check out girl/guy at whatever store we’re in, she asked the sales ladies at the furniture stores this weekend, she asks anyone she meets at a park, and even when we’re just passing by someone she doesn’t know she’ll try to ask them.  It’s cute but of course not everyone, especially older women, wants to share how old they are.  Brinley doesn’t understand this and the other day a woman said, “Well, how old do you think I am?”  Brinley just looked at her very confused and said, “I don’t know, that’s why I asked you.”  Luckily the lady thought she was cute and we both just laughed.  The lady managed to get away without giving away her age.  My guess is that she was in her late 50s.

Anyway, back to my original story about the library.  So Brinley asks the little girl and the girl says, “My name is Zoe and I’m four and a half.”  Then they have the most adorable conversation ever!

Brinley:  That’s a nice name.

Zoe:  Thanks.

B:   What’s your mom and dad’s names?

Z:  Heather and Aaron.

B:  Which one is the boy?

Z:  Aaron

B:  What street do you live on?  I live on Rocky Road*.  Do you live in Anytown*, too?  What state do you live in?

Z:  I live on Lovely Lane* in Anytown*.  I live in Missachewits.

B:  What planet do you live on?

Z:  Earth.

B: ::in an extremely excited voice:: ME TOO!!

This entire time I’m standing behind one of the book shelves listening to the whole conversation.  Then Brinley runs over to me and says, “Mom, this is Zoe and she lives on Earth too!!  Can she come over to play sometime?”

*Street and town names have been changed to protect our privacy.