Best conversation I've had for days

Alexander: Aunty Claire, what are those books you're reading?
Me: The political economy of armed conflict, Building Peace and Ethnicity and Intra state conflict: types, causes and peace strategies.
A: Why are they all about peace?
Me: Its for my work at university.
A: What are you trying to do? (getting this question from someone whos 9 puts a bit of a spin on your day)
Me: I'm trying to find a way to stop war and prevent it from happening. Thats what my thesis is about.
A: Cool. (goes off to do something else for a bit)
Ten minutes later...
A: I think I know a way to stop war.
Me (intrigued): Is that what you've been thinking about this whole time?
A: You get some scientists to make a drug, not a bad drug, but a good drug, like the ones that make you better when you get sick. The drug stops people from wanting to go to war, so you give it to all the supermarkets, and they put it in all the food, then everyone gets it, and there'll be no more war.
Me: You know, thats a really good idea, but there are some people that don't have supermarkets or food. Sometimes thats why they go to war.
A: So, if we could give them all some food then they'd be OK?
Me: Its a start, but they need jobs as well, so they can buy food for their children, and get houses and go to school and stuff.
A (gobsmacked): Some people don't have houses? Woah!
Me: We need to find a way to get all that for them so they can look after themselves, and be healthy and strong and educated and choose what they want to do with their lives, just like we can.
A (look of "does not compute" crossing his beautiful face): Wow....so I'm a pretty lucky kid then?
Me: You bloody are.
A: Mind your bloody language.
Me: Sorry Fred.

Theres nothing that brings you back down like trying to explain yourself and your work to someone whose main priorities in life are getting half an hours peace from his two sisters, hanging out for the Simpsons once a week, getting the final pieces for his Star Wars lego, and hoping it doesn't rain for soccer on Saturdays.