(Warning: I apologize that the following story may fleetingly conjure in your minds an image of me (Paul) in the buff.) A few weeks ago Wyatt and his friend were changing from their wet swimsuits back into dry clothes. Wyatt has recently developed a bit of shyness in the naked department--his days of running up and down the hallway completely naked and screaming may be over. So while changing on this particular day, he tried (unsuccessfully) to hide underneath his towel. After a few minutes, he peeked surreptitiously to see where his friend was in his undressing. Seeing his friend sans clothes, Wy said, "Naked!" and then laughed. I then said that he was wearing his birthday suit, which prompted Wy to go into unending question mode. ("Why?" is Wyatt's current favorite word.) I tried to explain why it was called a birthday suit, saying something about the fact that we are naked on the day we are born and it's just a silly thing to say. Later that day, Wyatt walked in the bedroom after I had just emerged from the shower. Wyatt smiled and sheepishly exclaimed, "Dad, I see your party suit!" He now says it all the time when he is naked or he sees one of us naked. We've never corrected him because it's so dang funny.
I just hope he doesn't grow up to be one of those people on that episode of This American Life who ridiculously believe something that just isn't true. You know, like the girl who went to college not knowing whether unicorns are endangered or extinct.
