Uniquely 'Willow'

After Willow tried a bite of the radish I was eating...

Me: Do you like it?
W: Yes...it's not too spicy. You don't mind 'too spicy'. But I do.
...pause...........
W: It's o.k. for us to be different. I mean, you can like spicy food and I don't and that's o.k.

Me: Yeah. Isn't that cool? If we were all exactly the same, it would be pretty boring.

W: It's better that we're all different. I'm glad we're not all the same and boring..

Me: (thinking to myself) ...I'm so proud of her for recognizing the importance of diversity and individuality at five yrs old. What a smart kid..

W: Mom, you know, if I was exactly like you, if I was 'another you'...it would be boring. If I was just like you, that would mean I'd clean up more.

Me:(slowly coming to the realization that my smart five year old is now conning me...) Well. That's interesting....it's good that you don't want to be exactly the same as me....how about this: I'll teach you how to clean up more, and then you can put your own flair on it; do it 'your way'...'kay?