Conversations w/ kids...

A co-worker/friend took the kids to a movie. As they were driving home Hannah had asked where he lives...
"I live in an apartment building.", he says.
"What is an apartment?", asks Hannah.
He pauses trying to come up with an answer she would understand.
"Oh, I know what it is!", she exclaims. "It is like a hotel that you live in."
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Natalie comes and asks me for something, and I tell her to please ask Hannah to get it for her. I expect that she will go to Hannah and say something like, "Mom says you have to get me ..." But, no.
She says, "Hannah, mom told me to tell you that you need to help with getting..."
I was stunned. That response was so *adult*!
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Yesterday I pick up the kids from a softball field, and Mark was frustrated with my timing. I didn't say much, but muttered something about friends being more important than wife (who was feeling sick). That was all! Noah speaks up,
"Do I have to get married when I get older?"
"No. You do not have to get married when you get older. But, why do you ask?", I say.
"Because I do not think I want to get married when I am older. It is takes too much work."
"Well, yes it takes lots of work; not always easy either. But, what makes you think that it is not worth being married?"
"I want to be able to spend all the time I want with my friends and not have to worry about a wife. I also do not want to have to help my wife all the time: too much work. And, if I got married I'd probably have kids and than I really wouldn't be able to do anything because I'd have to take care of them." Than he asks, "Mom, what would your life be like without kids?"
I think for a little bit and flashes of so many things run through my mind: kayaking, backpacking trips, traveling the world, a career, and I say, "My life would be very different, but I can not imagine my life without you guys. I love you all."
To which Hannah pipes, "Yes, we know that."
"And Noah, you would still be part of my life even if I wasn't married because I was pregnant with you before I got married to your dad. I mean, he is your dad; your biological dad, and will always be. If I didn't marry him than Hannah and Natalie would not be here because they are a part of him and a part of me."
"Mom," he thoughtfully asks, "would you still be married if you didn't marry dad?"
I think. "Yes. I probably would be. I can not say if it would be to your dad, or not, but I am sure that I would have eventually married."
"I do not think I will get married." he states again.
"Noah," I soothingly say, "when you meet someone that you can not imagine living without, you'll probably get married."
"I don't know.", as he sincerely finishes the conversation.
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I don't think that I need to 'dumb anything down' with my kids.