Dad asked his 9-year-old son how many kids he wanted someday — his surprisingly thoughtful answer left both parents stunned
Sometimes, kids teach you wise and valuable lessons that can leave adults stunned. Threads user (@tinandourwarmorbit) overheard her husband and son's conversation as they played video games. Her husband asked him how many kids he'd want to have in the future. However, the son's research-based answer, which also referenced his mom's childcare book, left the parents stunned. Sharing the story with Threads users on May Thursday, 7, 2026, the woman noted that she never knew her nursing books were being used for such a unique purpose.
The dad and his nine-year-old son were engaged in a conversation about having kids while they played video games. He asked the boy how many kids he was planning to have when he grew up. His son immediately responded, "Depends on my wife. Maybe one. Maybe none. We'll see her condition first." The husband, who was taken aback by his answer, further inquired what he meant by "her condition?" To which the son confidently replied, "I read in Mom’s maternal and child care book that there are a lot of pregnancy complications." The mother, who was overhearing this conversation, quipped, "I didn't even know my own nursing books were being used as relationship criteria."
The 9-year-old's profound response showed that he already had empathy. According to a report published by the World Economic Forum, empathy can be acquired from everyday interactions. While the latter is known to be inherited, the report notes that the trait can be taught. "Empathy helps us understand what others are thinking and feeling. It helps children build relationships, engage with what they are learning about, and work and play together," the report read. Their son must have come across his mother's nursing book accidentally, but glancing through the pages, he quickly realized that the concept of pregnancy is more complex than he imagined. For a nine-year-old to recognize the severity and empathize with women tells us what a gentleman he would grow up to be — one who wouldn't fail to respect his partner's body in the future.
@brittanylarthur shared, "This is much more considerate than my 6-year-old, who, this week, told me he doesn't want to get married because 'what if she's allergic to cats and then our kids are allergic to cats, and I can never have a cat?'" @_anonymous_bosch commented, "Answering 'it depends on her' is top-tier for any question, and you are an awesome mama with an awesome kiddo!" @xylophone_grl92 wrote, "A+ for both you and your son." @shalomajoy remarked, "That’s next-level planning."
For more inspiring and wholesome content on parenting, follow @tinandourwarmorbit on Threads.