Jacob's Career Plan

Our car's been broken for a week, so Greg's been driving me to work. 

Jacob: So, if they can't fix the car will we buy a new one or just keep doing the same thing? 

Me: Probably keep doing the same thing. 

Jacob: Why wouldn't we buy a new one? 

Me: They're expensive. 

Jacob: Well, I have an idea. We should wait a few days, make a lot of money, and then buy one! 

Me: Um, great idea, but how would we make the money? 

Jacob: Well, you could get a different job, like maybe be a doctor!

Me: Well, that takes a long time. You have to go to school for a long time, then train for a long time, then practice for a long time...

Jacob: Well, when I grow up, I want to be a doctor or... what are the people who tell you what the laws are and go to court?

Me: Lawyers.

Jacob: I want to be a doctor or a lawyer.

Me: Um, how did you decide that? (Naively thinking my precious 5-year-old wants to help people or loves school...)

Jacob: They make a lot of money.

Oh. 

If that doesn't work out, he could always end up being a translator... 

The other night when I was saying goodnight to Jacob, he said:

Jacob: Mom, do I have to be [mumble, mumble, mumble]?

Me: What?

Jacob: Mom, do I have to be [mumble, mumble, mumble]?

Me: What?

Jacob: Mom, do I have to be [mumble, mumble, mumble]?

Me: Jake, I don't understand you. 

Jacob: Mom, do I have to be [mumble, mumble, mumble]?

Me: I have no idea what you're saying (he kept trailing off at the end).

Jacob: I'm speaking French. Do. I. Have. To. Be. Neuf. To. Go. To. Kings. Island.

The day before, Greg had told him we'd probably wait until he's 8 or 9 to go to an amusement park, so he's big enough to ride most of the rides. And silly me, I never thought to listen for French words from my just-getting-out-of-preschool-hasn't-even-started-kindergarten-yet child.