chain of inheritance

Today as we walked to the local park, Damian asked -- completely out of the blue -- what Dante's last name is. I told him it was the same as his.

"Oh, so I gave Dante my last name."

Well, no, actually, Dante was born before you were. Daddy gave him his last name.

"Oh, so Daddy gave Dante his last name and Dante gave it to me."

Um. Not exactly. Daddy gave Dante his last name and he also gave you yours.

"Why did Daddy give me his last name?"

Um. Er. Because in some places, like here, most people get their last names from their father.

(Leaving out the fact that if he'd been a girl, Damian would have gotten his -- her -- last name from me. Let's not confuse the issue. Yet. Maybe next year.)

"No, you're wrong. You're lying. I got my last name from Dante, not from Daddy!"

Um.

"You're wrong and I'm right." He ran ahead, crowing.

Apparently Damian was named by a red striped cat. Who knew?

Posted by Tamar at January 19, 2004 08:56 PM