While having some polite conversation with Ayden over dinner this evening, the subject of dinosaurs came up. I told him that we’re likely going to the Oregon Zoo tomorrow to see the new Dinosaur exhibit. I’m the first to acknowledge that having life-like dinosaurs at a ZOO does potentially send the wrong message to children. Here’s the conversation that ensued:
Ayden: I want to see REAL dinosaurs Mommy.
Chloe: Well sweetie, there are no REAL dinosaurs anymore. They are all extinct. Extinct means “dead”.
Ayden: Why are they dead?
Chloe: Well, there are two main ideas. One is that a big mountain called a volcano erupted and changed the sky and made them all die. Another idea is that a big asteroid, which is just a rock, flew through space and the sky and crashed into our world. Either way, there are no dinos left… just the bones, like the ones we saw at OMSI last week.
Ayden: …[long pause to ponder this]… Well mommy, there is still ONE dinosaur left [said with much emphasis while holding up one finger].
Chloe: Oh? There’s one left? Where does he live?
Ayden: In a cave. With water in front of it.
Chloe: Really? Where is the cave?
Ayden: It’s across town. You can’t see it and you can’t find it. But there is still ONE dinosaur left.
Well then. I certainly can’t argue with that now can I? So says Ayden!
Great conversation…what a deep subject for a little boy to think about, but it sounds like he came up with his own answer to the age old question about what happened to the dinosaurs!! That’s a great vision he had!
Love you all,
Nanna
Oh that is so cute. And I am with you on the mixed messages the dinosaur exhibit at the zoo sends. Poor confused kiddos.