On a recent walk, Kellan and I noticed new graffiti on a wooden bridge along one of our favorite trails. It read like a desk in a middle school homeroom: Katie was here, Alex + Sarah, I rule. I see adolescent territorial markings never change. But something written in big, block letters did stand out. "What does that say?" Kellan asked. "Um... save the trees," I replied.

Someone wrote a message about war along a section of the handrail that's hard to miss, and curious preschoolers don't miss much. I was reluctant to tell him the truth, but was it because I didn't want to explain war? That's definitely true. It's also the idea of even exposing him to the concept.

I guess there's a big part of me that wants my child to have to be worry-free for as long as possible. I'm sure if I had told him what the words on the handrail meant, he would have processed it and moved on since he is, after all, only three.  I just want to protect him from subjects like war a little bit longer. I know when the time is right I'll come up with a better answer to tough questions than "Save the trees," although that's not a bad motto for now.