jaguars

We went to the zoo last weekend and spent a good three hours there walking around to all sections of the zoo. This is different from most of our trips to the zoo where we stop by to shout 'Hey' to the elephants and the monkeys, eat some popcorn and then hit the road. This time however we went by many more animals including all of the cats. Now when we asked Ada if she wanted to walk by the cats I'm sure she pictured cute cuddly kitties not large predator type cats who would be eyeing her like a tasty little snack since we happened to swing by the cats right around lunch time. Most of the cats were quietly stalking back and forth in their cages, quietly waiting for their trainer to bring lunch by. The Jaguar however was loudly growling for all to hear, eyeing every small child and calculating what it would take to squeeze his big head through the bars of the cage and how hard the parents would fight. Ada picked up on this. Boy oh boy did she pick up on this.

Later that night as we were eating dinner I asked Ada what her favorite part of the zoo was. We are still working on the concept of having a favorite so she didn't really answer me, she just said, Yes, which is what she says when she doesn't really understand what we are saying to her. Anyway, I digress. So when Ada said, "Yes" to my question about her favorite part of the zoo I started probing, was it the sky ride? was it the elephants (a usual favorite)? was it lunch? was it the monkeys? or was it possibly the Jaguar? Which prompted this conversation:

Ada: Jaguars eat people

Me: Well in the wild they might, but the one at the zoo gets served lunch from their trainer

Ada: Jaguars are scary

Me: Yes, I can see how they could be scary, but don't worry you are safe here

Ada: Jaguars are going to come eat me

Me: Oh no, the Jaguar can't get to our house, he doesn't know where we live

Ada: (quizzical look, questioning my sanity)

Me: Think about it, Jaguars don't have a car so they would have to walk the whole way

Ada: (nodding) They would have to use their feet

Me: Right, and they would have to go on the highway so people would see them and report them to the police.

Ada: (nodding some more) That is a long way

Me: Yes, and they don't know where we live so they would have to find the right house

Ada: I live in MY house

Me: Yes, and even if the Jaguar guessed the right house, they couldn't open our door because they don't have thumbs

Ada: I have THUMBS!!

Me: Right, so you could get inside but the Jaguar couldn't. You would be safe.

Ada: Jaguars don't have cars, they can't drive

Me: (nodding, thinking this is actually sinking in)

Ada: And they don't have thumbs, so I'm safe. Jaguars aren't scary.

Me: That's right, so what was your favorite part of the zoo?

Ada: Yes!

Totally cool that we are starting to have actual logical discussions with Ada. Dinner time is going to be much more fun from now on.