Thick Skin and Sweetheart

"Are we're having an adventure Mama?"
"Yes Sweetheart, you could say we are having a real adventure."
"Learning to roll out of the ol' mud hole is hard work. Why?"
"To teach us how to be persnickety."
"What is per-snick-ety?"
"Persnickety is knowing exactly where you are standing in the mud hole, and where everybody else is standing in relationship to you."
"Huh?"
"Persnickety is choosing who stands by your side. Choosing those you trust, so you can be safe and enjoy your mud bath."
"Why do we have to have mud baths Mama?"
"Well Honey, because thick skin can be rather tender, and we need protection from the sun's rays and bloodsuckers."
"Are bloodsuckers per-snick-ety?"
"No. That's why we need to learn how to persevere and persistently out smart them."
" What is per-severe, and per-sis-tent?"
"Ask your friends to help you out the next time you're in the mud hole."
"Okay! In that case I better learn to be persnickety."