Kids Who Know Too Much

When we are out and about, if things come up, I try to explain as much as I can to Anna.

For example, if we are in a cab, we look at the map of Manhattan. We talk about the boroughs and bridges. We talk about the rights and responsibilities of the passenger and the driver. We talk about the medallion number. One day she asked me "what the other numbers are". By this she meant the line posted in every cab that lets you know that 3-1-1 is the number to call for any taxi-related issues.

So I told her about 311. Of course she asks me what "taxi-related issues" are. In my attempt to not emphasize the somewhat scary "angry cab driver from hell" scenarios while at the same time at a bit of a loss for any other taxi-related reason that I would call 311, I tried to play up the fact that if you leave something in a taxi, you can call 311 and tell them the medallion number (which is why you should always ask for the receipt) and they will help you get it back.

So at this point Anna knows:

(1) I am in the cab with Mommy.
(2) (From a previous conversation) Mommy has a history of leaving her wallet in a cab.
(3) You call 3-1-1 if you leave something in a cab.

Do you see where this is headed?
Now every time we take a taxi, as I am putting away my wallet after we pay, she grabs my hand and squeezes hard and basically jumps in my lap and says "Mommy! Don't leave me! Don't call 3-1-1 !".

If Jack and Thomas ever bring this up, I will talk about potholes.