I love to tell stories to my kids.  Most of the tales that I tell are character-based, and follow a predictable arc of conflict and resolution.

“Daddy, what’s going to happen to Cookie and Carrot this time?”

“Well…” (thinking) “I can tell you about the time that Cookie and Carrot went to the big city and got mugged” (thinking; regretting).

“What’s mugged mean?”

“Well…” (thinking) “mugged  means many things, including when someone gives you a new coffee mug.”

I make up details as I go, which is pretty easy for an average audience age of 5.  I imagine what it will be like as the years go by. I envision a scene where I tell him stories during his senior year of high school.

“Yo, Dad.  Get out.”

“Okay, but you won’t find out what happened to Cookie and Carrot!”

“Message me.” (SLAM)

These times are precious.