Fungi

We always seem to have the most interesting family discussions driving to church.  Today's initial topic: Fungi.

Edee:  Why are dere mushrooms?
Me:  They are a fungus.  They aren't plants, but the mushrooms grow kind of like plants.
Edee:  Why aren't they plants?
Me:  They are different...plants have different parts than fungi.  A lot of fungi help things decompose.  Like they eat dead trees and plants and animals and stuff.  To break it down so it can turn into dirt.
Edee:  Dey eat trees and animals? Why do dey do dat?
Me:  It.....well....okay, hmmmm..... you know how Simba's daddy tells him about the circle of life?  He tells them, "that the antelope eat the grass, and we eat the antelope, and when we die our bodies become the grass."  Remember that?  Then the antelope will eat the grass again, and the lions will eat the antelope, and when the lions die, fungi will help the body decompose and turn into grass.
Chicken:  Wa!  Mommy I don wan to be gass!!
Daddy:  You won't have to worry about that. If you die we'll probably put you in a box.
Me:  Daddy!!
Chicken:  WAAAAAA!!!!  (head down, *wimper, wimper*)
Me (to Daddy):  I cannot believe you just said that!
Daddy:  (laughs)
Chicken: (starting to cry louder)
Me:  Don't worry Chicken, you don't have to worry about that.....for a long time.....shh shh, you're okay.
Daddy:  (still laughing)
Chicken:  I don't want to be dead!
Me:  You are not going to die!.... well....you aren't going to die anytime soon....it's not anything you need to worry about right now!  Your spirit will go up to heaven so you don't have to worry about it and you'll be resurrected..... Daddy--stop laughing, it's not funny, he's devastated right now.  Ugh, why don't we just get a fail grade for parenting already and be done with it already!!?

The bad news is that Chicken may traumatized about death now, but the good news is that this just heightened Edee's interest in fungi.  If that can be considered good news....

At least we have a good family home evening topic picked out for tomorrow already: The Plan of Salvation :)