Earlier today, while I was immersed in office work on my laptop, my 9-year-old son was preparing for his upcoming English Olympiad exam. After a while, he approached me with a question from his workbook. Since I was busy, I asked him to check with his mother. She too was occupied, and he insisted it wouldn’t take long—so I agreed to listen.

He pointed to a question and said, “Papa, I think this question isn’t framed properly.” I assumed he was just trying to dodge the answer and told him not to be over smart. But then he read the question aloud:

Q: Find the verb in the given sentence. ‘Boy cut his hand with knife.’

I asked what was wrong with it. His reply left me speechless: “Papa, they shouldn’t ask kids questions like this. It could’ve been something like ‘Boy cut the fruit with knife,’ but not his hand. It makes you imagine blood and pain.”

I was genuinely moved by his sensitivity. For a child to recognize the emotional impact of language and advocate for more thoughtful phrasing is remarkable. It reflects the values we’ve tried to instill in him—empathy, awareness, and kindness.

This moment reminded me that children often see the world with a clarity and compassion we overlook. His insight made me a proud and grateful father.