Tummies and whales

This week John drew a picture at school of him inside his daddy's tummy. Yes, that is right - John in his dad's tummy. I would take a picture of the drawing and post it, except that this particular drawing is red marker scribbled on a white sheet of paper. I am sure this picture is easily imagined without a photo to accompany the description.

In any case, John's teachers were tickled about his drawing and readily brought it to my attention that day when I picked him up. John's teachers said that earlier that day in chapel the kids had learned the story about Jonah and the whale, and thus they assumed that perhaps John had drawn his picture inside his dad's tummy because Jonah had been swallowed inside the whale's tummy. So I was obviously intrigued, and asked John a few questions during the drive home.

Me: "John, I love the picture you drew of you inside dad's tummy. Did you draw that because you learned about Jonah today?"

John: "What? Who is Jonah?"

Me: "Oh. You know, the story you learned in chapel about the man who got swallowed up inside the whale's tummy?"

John: "Yes! Mommy, Jonah got eaten by the whale! That is very exciting!"

Me: "So, is that why you drew you inside of dad's tummy?"

John: "No. I just got inside of dad's tummy by going to the front and opening the door. I push open the door - mommy, because I am so strong - and I just unlock it and open it up and hide inside."

Me (ever the practical one): "John, that seems silly. I mean, how exactly can you get inside of dad's tummy? There is no door in the front."

John: "Mom, yes there is. It's this part, the button (pointing to his belly-button). I just open this up in there and make myself really small, like a roly-poly bug, and then I climb inside."

Me (not knowing what to say, but laughing): "John, that's pretty neat. But why are you in dad's tummy?"

John: "Just because I want to be. And it's cozy."

That's pretty much where our conversation ended. But when Amelia learned about John's drawing and his statement about wanting to climb inside dad's belly through the button hole, she set him straight that it would not be possible. john looked like he didn't believe her, and I think that is perfectly OK.