Another essay by Tooch Van:

The power of sharing

By Tooch A. Van on August 1, 2013 at 5:25 am

Empowering our son Winston to tell a short story is an obligation my wife and I share. Here are two examples of Winston’s stories:

On March 2, 2013, at about 6:30 in the morning, Winston came into our study room while I was looking at my email. He started looking at the Boston Globe-Northeast Section’s article hanging on the wall. The article was about me when I was the MCC commencement speaker for the classes 2002. Of course, Winston could not read it yet(this was two months before his fourth birthday) but maybe recognized my picture in there.

But then he began, “Tooch Van, the man who travelled across the continents to come to America, and… and.. and… study.”

At that moment my heart was full of joy and a sense of pride as his Papa. Winston was learning to tell a story, crafting his words, weaving them into the story of his Papa’s journey of life.

… But here another tale of Winston

Now is he’s four. One of his favorite things is to sneak out of our house and into our small back yard to start a conversation with our neighbor, Becky. Becky is about 55 and their conversation usually takes around 10 or 15 minutes. And Winston talks to her often.

One day, I overheard their conversation when I came to the back yard.

Becky said.. “thanks but I need to go back into the house and prepare my dinner.”

With a perplexed look on his face and disappointment in his voice, Winston asked “Why?”

And Becky was on her way into her house but turned back and asked “by the way, who is in charge in your house?”

Winston paused and put his finger to his lips for a moment. Then, he replied with a half smile, “me.”

Becky laughed and replied “really!” then walked into her house.

Yes, these days, Winston thinks that he is in charge in our house.