Law 101 for Pre-Schoolers

My son will be 4-years old this Friday. Wow. Hard to believe he is getting to be such a big boy, but he is. He's quite interested in studying and my law school books. On Saturday while I was studying at my Mom's house (way easier than at my own house where said 4-year-old and his 1-year-old sister would constantly interrupt me), he called me. He said he was reading my school books that I'd left behind.

"Are they interesting?"

"Yes."

I was fascinated that he found these pictureless books interesting, but OK.

Then yesterday, he picks up my Contracts and Torts textbooks, carries them into the living room and declares that he wants me to tell him what they are all about. I sit next to him on the couch.

I start with Torts.

"This book is about how if you hit someone you can get into big trouble. Or, if you walk into someone else's yard and damage their stuff, you'll get in trouble."

That seemed to satisfy him. He moved onto the pretty red Contracts book, by Prof. Blum, who I am fortunate enough to have as my teacher, as well. (To all you other students using this book throughout the country - Prof. Blum speaks just as he writes and is an excellent teacher.) My son wants to know what this book is about.

"It's about how if you make a deal with someone, you have to keep up your end of the deal, or you will get in trouble."

"Like, if you promise to take me to the mall and you don't?"
(He totally came up with this on his own.)

"Yes, especially if we had our deal in writing. If I promised to take you to the mall and I did not, I'd be in trouble."

That was it. Torts and Contracts done in less than two minutes. If only our classes were this easy!