Out of the mouths of adolescents

"Out of the mouths of babes..." we like to say.

(Here's one of Zach's from many years ago.)

However, whatever wisdom is expressed by children typically comes from their complete innocence.

That is, the wisdom does not reside in the child speaking, but rather in the adult who hears the speaking.

(Corollary: if a child utters some astute observation and no-one hears it, it probably ain't a wisdom!)

The wisdom of an adolescent is a bit different. It is a quirky blend of innocence and emergent wisdom. Here's some examples from Zach.
Wisdom #1: 

Zach's mum came to pick him up one day. She came into the house and started getting Zach sorted out:

"Grab your swimming gear Zach, you're going to be starting swim squad this week at the pool. Do you want to start swim squad?"

Zach turned to me a little exasperated and said "Did you see that Papa?"

I did. 

However, Zach went on to explain how his mother's question had followed the presumption... all within his mother's hearing, 

I wryly noted (in the silence of my own head) that Zach still had to learn that further words were not necessary.

We men may poor at picking up cues and hints, but we are capable of understanding one another even when very few words are spoken as illustrated in this segment from the film Aloha. (By the by, if you haven't seen the film, don't bother as this 30secs is the best bit!)

How men communicate

Wisdom #2: 

As I was busy cooking in the kitchen, I asked Zach if he could take the garbage outside.

He replied: "I could but I won't" and then kind of watched me.

I laughed.

He said, "Hmm, Mummy was not like that at all when I said that to her."

A conversation ensued in which we discussed the ways in which sometimes people invite others to do something, but sometimes the invitation precludes the option of refusing.

Wisdom #3:

Zach's mum's partner, Scott, a Star Wars tragic, accompanied da boyz (Zach, a mate of Zach's and me) to see this year's latest installment, Rogue One at two minutes past midnight on December 15.

A couple of days later, Zach was remarking to me about how Scott is such a good guy.

"You know Papa, I'm really lucky, I have two dads."

"Uh-huh"

"I'm also really lucky I have only one mum."

"Yep."