Flashback Friday: What's this 'Married'?

Let me just start with a disclaimer by saying that I have nothing against marriage or motherhood. It's a fantastic plan at whatever time or age a person is prepared and in a position to take on such responsibility. But since I was on the subject of motherhood yesterday I thought I would continue with this little anecdote.

While I was in Russia I did some babysitting, and a particular five-year-old girl kept wanting me to play dolls. Here's the thing: I don't know how to play dolls. I thought maybe I had just become a Scrooge in my old age, so I asked my mother. Nope. I didn't play "mommy and baby" even as a child. And twenty something years later I still don't know what exactly one is supposed to do during such a game. Anyway, the child put the doll under her shirt so as to "have the baby in her tummy". I was Doctor (Doctor Who? I asked and chuckled at myself). This seemed like a straightforward task which I thought I could handle. I was wrong. When I tried to simply pulled the doll's foot which was already sticking out, the girl scolded me and said I was supposed to do something to her tummy. I poked a few times. Wrong. I asked if I'm supposed to give her medicine. Wrong. I asked her what I'm supposed to do, and she said, "You're the doctor. What do you do?" I still had no idea what she was getting at. I told her that I'm not a very good doctor and don't know what to do. She said, "Well what did the doctor do for you?" Umm... "What are you talking about?" I asked. "What did the doctor do for your baby?" she clarified.
Eeeeh... Excuse me?
"I don't have a baby..."
"Why?"
Ok. Let's pause here. I actually like the "why" game. Except when it's "why should I... (eat, go to bed, etc.)" I think it's fun to come up with explanations for kids. So. Here goes.
Unpause.
"Because I'm not married?"
"What's this 'married'?"
"I don't have a man."
"Why not?"
Oh. What a loaded question. I scrolled through the possible answers in my head. Answers depending on my mood... Answers depending on the time I have to answer... Answers depending on the asker. But how to explain to a five-year-old who is not speaking her native language...? I settled on:
"Because I'm not old enough."
I'm not sure if she remembered my age. But it worked. And the world continued--until the next time she brought up the subject, and I had to come up with another explanation. After clarifying that I like boys, she concluded that boys just don't like me. I should have seen that one coming. Well, played, little Russian girl. Well played.

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.