During a tutoring session with a 2nd grader…

Me (after we read a story about a man who wasted his wishes on material things, and ended up with nothing): “And so if you had one wish, what would it be?”

Kid (thinks long and hard; seems indecisive): “I guess….a red sno-cone. That’s my favorite.”

Me (disappointed): “Really? You looked like you were deciding between that and something else. Something a little more meaningful, maybe….?”

Kid: “Well, I was going to say I’d wish for the world to be a better place.”

Me: “YES!!!! YES YES YES. I love that. Now THAT is a beautiful, powerful, meaningful wish. Why didn’t you choose that one?!”

Kid: “Because you can’t wish for that.”

Me: (confused)

Kid: “You have to DO that. You can’t just wish for it, you have to DO it.”