Daddy, you're a cashew

 You can't afford to be thin-skinned if you're a parent. My kids like to remind me this important rule. Last night at the dinner table, Mr Four-Years-Old said "Mummy, you're a peanut, because I like peanuts better than cashews." Awww, what a lucky Mummy. What a sweet boy. Wait, wait, here comes some more sugar: "Daddy... you're a cashew."

Now, a number of thoughts spring to mind. Firstly, he does like cashews, so it's not all bad. And I prefer cashews, so all good there. Also, those few whose company I keep would be quick to apply less flattering metaphors. So, at the risk of provoking further enunciations of my position in the household popularity stakes, should I thank him for his honesty? Should I congratulate my wife on her status? Or should I be seizing the opportunity to instruct the boy on the niceties of social interactions? Perhaps he may yet avoid the worst of the defective "work and play well with others" gene passed from father to son in my family.

Nah, bugger it. Quips like that will serve him well in life. Maybe a little high-brow for his playground mates, but a polite slap in the face is still a slap in the face, and all the more disarming for the delivery. If only I would sugar-coat my critiques of others so well...