Where does thunder come from?

One of the joys of parenting is watching your kids change and grow, seemingly before your eyes. The latest revelation was that Jackson (our awesome 9-year old son) now understands how thunder “works” for lack of a better term.

It started when last night’s thunderstorm woke him up and caused sufficient concern for him to roam upstairs into our bedroom. Already awakened by the Donner und Blitzen, I heard him coming. I did my best to seem remotely lucid and asked him what was wrong. Of course I already knew it was the storm. I don’t know why, but I launched into the explanation of what thunder is. (Nicole told him it was angels bowling which would have worked for our two little girls, but not for Jackson. By the way, my explanation was mostly right, so check the link above.)

He went back downstairs, where I found him the next morning. (All three were in Clara’s bed – safety in numbers I guess.) He then said:

“Dad, what you told me last night really helped me. Thanks.”

No Jackson, thank you, my not-so-little boy.