I appreciated the comments that I read and heard from the post ‘vegetables’.
Thank you for those.
I would like to now tell you Zion’s reaction to my explaination. For those that might be able to put yourself somewhat in my shoes, you might be able to understand what his reaction meant to me. It may seem little to some but to me it is huge.
After I said that the man was being pinned by the police because he didn’t eat his vegetables Zion looked at me for a few seconds, thought to himself and turned to Jacoba and said,
“don’t worry Jacoba, he is just joking around again”.
I’ll never forget it.
MdH

14 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 14, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Theresa
I love it. I was hoping you would share, since I can’t quite conjure up a 6-year-old response on my own. Thank you.
January 14, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Sheri N.
priceless
January 14, 2009 at 7:52 pm
susanne
That is so great!
Zion is a smart lad!
Susanne
January 14, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Mark & Laura Bassie
January 14, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Julie Oosterloo-Pilling
Priceless Mendelt…absolutely priceless!
Zach laughed so hard when he read this story…we’ll have to remember it for when Hope is bigger…although we have no problem getting her veggies into her now.
January 15, 2009 at 8:12 am
Laura
Brought a smile to my face, happy to hear that you’re joking around again.
January 16, 2009 at 5:49 am
Dee
Man aren’t they just so smart!!!! glad to have you back at work
Love hearing you sing and laugh
Love, prayers and thoughts……Love you Dee
January 16, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Jessica Van Geest
Hi Mendelt,
Funny how well our kids know us. Sometimes they know us even better than we know ourselves. I know if I said that to my kids they would know I was full of it!!!
Take care and God Bless
Jessica VG
January 17, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Mem Hoekstra
Very nice Zion,
I wish your Heit had been around when Mendelt had to eat his vegetables….oh, wait a minute…he was around and Beppe had to use old fashioned discipline to make him eat his vegetables. I like the new ways much better and I just love you for being so kind to your sisters.
January 17, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Roads
It’s good to see they know when their Dad is having fun with them.
And that is absolutely huge because it means that despite it all, you’ve managed to present a lighter-hearted and less miserably crushed kind of persona to the children than I’m sure at times you’ve felt capable of living up to.
So much of this is and has been about protecting the children from the pain you feel, and how deeply you have felt. It’s not an act, exactly, but there’s a certain kind of unbelievably strong determination it takes to manage that projection, all the same.
And, just occasionally, it’s wonderful to see such clear vindication of that approach. Well done indeed.
January 18, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Anita Sloetjes
Ha ha good one Zion.At least you know how the old man ticks.That’s what happens when you hang out with him day and night.Veel liefs Mendelt,Anita
January 18, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Kristy & Chuck
Love it! Our guys would say the same if we tried to pull that off. The ongoing banter over here goes something like this: C (with a twinkle in his eye): “no, really, I’m serious!!” Kids: “yeah dad, we know, seriously SILLY!!”
What a great big brother, to let his sister in on the secret…
January 18, 2009 at 11:48 pm
sonja
He’s so sweet to explain to his sister. Good thing he knows not to be afraid of police officers
.
January 19, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Leanne
We love the comments and the stories…please keep them coming.
How are you doing at work? We hope you are managing well – and also taking some time for yourself.
In our thoughts and prayers,
Leanne, Joe and Carter