Dispatches from the Frontlines of Fatherhood: Counting to Twelve

Overheard in my backyard, a conversation between two five-year-olds:

Kat: Let’s play hide and seek. Turn to the tree and count to ten.

Friend: Okay. One . . . two . . .

Kat: Wait! That’s not long enough. Count to twenty.

Friend: But I can’t count to twenty! I can only count to twelve!

Kat: Fine, count to twelve then.