Scared Straight: Preschool Edition

I have the bravest child that I have ever met. Space Mountain. Haunted Mansion. Roller Coasters. Scary movies. Nothing has phased him yet. Not so much as a peep. I've seen him look a little nervous for a second on occasion, gather his composure and then immediately ask to do whatever it was that irked him all over again. Well, apparently I haven't had enough discussions with him (or any) about what "jail" is or about the "judicial system."

We went to Alcatraz and took the audio tour. A quick little pre-brief of it being an old abandoned prison and a definition of jail seemed seemed sufficient. He understood what all of it meant clear enough but when he got a good look at what a jail was all about. Well...

It was the first time I saw that apprehensive look on his face permanently.

He has been talking my ear off ever since about how badly he wants to make sure he never, ever, EVER wants to go to jail.

It all seemed well and good to broadly tell him that people who don't listen and follow rules go to jail. But, he got kind of freaked out and needed a lot more information.

So, we've been doing a lot of talking over the last few days about laws, the judicial system, court and exactly what jail entails.

He seems awfully confused about why Alcatraz no longer operates. He can't seem to wrap his head around what jail is really like if it isn't like Alcatraz and his main concern is that the food in jail would not be good. I feel like he might be considering a life of crime, if only he could be sure to get three good meals a day out of it. He keeps asking about cake.

He did say that he doesn't want to return to Alcatraz again, even to visit. And upon recieving parole from the tour, he was alive with glee.

Talking to the nesting seagulls was the first time I saw him smile. He's like the bird man of Alcatraz.