What's in a name?

Conversation about our niece - my children's only first cousin.

Solom: I can't wait for Sophia to come home so I can make her smile.

Me: Awww. Solom, if Sophie has a baby sister, will you love her as much as you love Sophie?

Solom: Yes!

Me: Okay, boys let's pretend, if Sophie had a baby sister, what would you name her?

Zain: SHAHID AFRIDI.

Cloudy, with a chance of epiphanies

This happened while I was trying to feed Zainoo spicy meatballs.

Zain (turning his head away): I'm done.

Me: Zainooo!

Solom (from under the dining table): ZAIN, do you KNOW people are CRYING because they don't have enough FOOD??

Zain: THEN WE'D BETTER LEAVE SOME FOR THEM, SULEIMAN.

On digging a hole for oneself

Conversation while feeding the boys lunch.

Me: Zainoo's my baby. And Solom's my FIRST baby! Mama's two..?

Solom: Fat.

Early boyhood education

Solom (beaming): Today Raina sat next to me.

Me: Oh, good! Does she like you now?

Solom: I don't know. She told me to move my chair a little to the left, and I did as I was told.

Ciiiiircle of life

At the mall today. Conversation between my mother and my son.

Amma (looking proudly at Solom and Zain): My little sweethearts! What will I do when you grow older?

Solom (blinking earnestly): When we grow older, you'll be lying flat on the ground and then they'll bury you.