This is a somewhat unsatisfying post, as to it doesn’t have a conclusion, because Ro continued to struggle with the past time concept.

Ro <pointing to Kuttu’s eye>: Daddy, how did Kuttu get this bubu?

Me: Charlie bit him, because Kuttu made a bad choice – he stole Charlie’s food.

Ro: Biting is bad. Did Charlie get a timeout?

Me: Yes, he did. We don’t bite .We use our words, or bark.

Ro: Was Charlie having his timeout there? <pointing to the wall where Ro usually gets his timeouts>

At this point I had to get creative, because this whole incident happened in our previous house, where Ro has never been because he wasn’t born yet. So I moved the story to our house…

Me: No, Charlie had his time out in the breakfast area.

Ro: At the green wall?

Me: No, the wall was white. We had not painted it yet.

<Ooops, I should have left out that detail.>

Ro: White? Why is the wall green now?

Me: Because mommy likes colors. She made it green.

<Phew, dodged that detail.>

Ro: Was Charlie good in his time-out?

Me: Yes, he was very good.

Ro: Was he three?

Me: No he was five and Kuttu was three.

Ro: Was I three?

Me: No you weren’t born yet.

Ro: <blank stare>

Me: … you weren’t here yet. Not even in mommy’s belly.

Ro: was I zero?

Me: <Impressed> yes, you weren’t here yet, like zero, nil, zilch.

Ro: No, I mean not one, – zero

Me: Ahhh! – No, you weren’t born yet, not just younger than one. You weren’t    c o n c e i v e d. <big smile on my face>

Ro: < blank stare>

Me: Never mind. Charlie was good in his time out. Do you want to play with the silver car?

Ro: Yes, the silver car is my *favorite*!

From there we left the time before he was born alone…