History Lessons!

Manya: Mom, let’s play pretend n play.
Me (with complete disinterest): Okay, what are we playing?
Manya: Just lie down on the bed peacefully, close you eyes and relax.
Me (with renewed enthusiasm): Oh sure. Then?
Manya: So you are Pearl Harbor and I am Japan.

Before I am able to process this information, she comes and crashes onto me with full force! And that hurt!

Me: What the hell Manya! What was that! It hurt. Why are you so violent! Why did you hit me so hard!
Manya: Because you wont buy and sell stuff from me.
Me (raging mad by this point): What the...!
Manya: Yep, that’s why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
Me (absolutely furious): I don’t care. You talk to me first and no hitting - not even in play.
Manya (very cheekily): It was a surprise attack Mom. Everybody was shocked - nobody was prepared.

(PS: She is reading a book on Pearl Harbor and is thoroughly fascinated)

Me: You wait. Ill show you how US retaliated. I am sure your book doesn’t talk about that.
Manya (sensing danger): But mom this Japan and Pearl Harbor will now talk and sort issues - lets kiss and makeup.
Me (slightly melted): Yes and lets not play war. War is not a game - it’s sad and destructive. War does no good and we should learn from the past and not repeat those mistakes.
Manya: Okay mom. Let’s play another game. You stop me from entering your shop because i am black - then i will protest, okay?

(PS: The other book she is reading is about the civil rights movement in the US.)

At this point, I am officially done with Spring Break.