Kids

Wailing six-year-old boy: But whyyy?!
Mom: Well, I know, honey, but kick him in the shins, don’t kick him in the balls!

–Prince & Broadway

A woman and four fancifully-dressed little kids are waiting to cross the street.

Little girl: Can’t we cross the streeet? What are we waiting for?!
Stressed mom: Your father. Remember? The guy you want to be cremated with?

–72nd & Central Park West

Overheard by: Elm City Lass

Mother: You have to cut her chicken fingers up. I gave her a whole one the other day and she almost choked to death.
Father: I like for her to learn to take bites.
Mother: She’s not ready.
Two-year-old daughter: I’m not ready, Dad.

–Diner, Midtown

Little boy: Mom, how did the dinosaurs cook their meat?
Mother: They didn’t, they ate it raw.
Little boy: Oh. [Long pause.] Are Japanese people dinosaurs?

–Astoria Park

Mom to toddler screaming in stroller: That’s it, sweetie. Let it all out. Doesn’t that feel good?

–TJ Maxx, 19th & 6th

Overheard by: Manhattman

Mom to toddler: Joseph, stop walking like a tourist!

–51st & 5th

Overheard by: Gillian

Mother to toddler running into automatic revolving door: You best not hurt yourself or I will fuck you up!

–Port Authority

Overheard by: HelloClairice

Man to child in stroller: … Then we push her over the edge of the cliff. That’s called getting even!

–President & 5th Ave, Brooklyn

Overheard by: George

Mother to three-year-old daughter: Hey, it’s Santa on the phone. And you know what he says? Stop taking my credit cards.

–Metro-North train

Overheard by: lish

Mom to two small children struggling to get through the crowd: Just push them all as hard as you can! Use your fists and elbows, too!

–34th & 6th

Overheard by: Ivy270

Father hand-in-hand with seven-year-old boy who’s singing national anthem: That’s right, sing it loud and sing it wrong.

–Times Square

Six-year old boy: Mom, what’s that?
Loud mother in cheery voice: That’s your prostate!

–Bodies exhibit, South St Seaport

Overheard by: Diana B

Kid: Dad, what’s a novel?
Dad: It’s a story written down in a book.
Kid: What’s a short story?
Dad, staring at kid: Are you freakin’ kidding me?

–Father Demo Square

Overheard by: z-pfeiff

Teacher: When you grow up you can be anything you want!
Second grader: I can be an elephant?!

–P.S. 121

Little boy #1: I wish dinosaurs lived in Central Park.
Little boy #2: Dinosaurs aren’t real — they’re from the TV.
Little boy #3: Dinosaurs are real, they just live on other planets.
Little boy #2: Like Pluto!
Little boy #1: Pluto isn’t a planet anymore. The scientists blowed it up.

–M86 bus

Overheard by: pluto is still a planet to me

Little girl totters from side to side.

Mom: What are you doing, honey?
Little girl: Today I’m going to walk like Daddy!

–117th & Amsterdam

Overheard by: amused bystander