A Boy To Do A Man’s Job

(My four-year-old nephew is sleeping over. I’ve bought him a new toy, batteries not included. I take out the screwdriver set in order to place the batteries into the toy.)

Nephew: “You cannot do that. That is for daddies.”

Me: “I’m sorry, there isn’t a daddy here. I could call grandpa or your daddy, but then you can’t play with your toy until then. And maybe they don’t have time.”

Nephew: *after thinking it over for a while* “Okay, but I hold this.”

(He clutches the holder for the screwdrivers. I start opening the compartment to place the batteries.)

Nephew: “You don’t have a daddy here.”

Me: “No. My daddy is granddad and he is at his own home with grandma.”

Nephew: “I have a daddy.”

Me: “Yes, you do.”

(I am kindly allowed to do the necessary work and place the batteries while he is watching closely. I even am allowed to place the screwdriver back in the holder he was still clutching. But after closing the holder, he reserves the right to carefully put it back into its place!)