There is still a learning curve...

Scene: The community pool, shortly after it has opened and the family have joined those of us who played water volleyball in the hour before opening. We have decided, in honour of the holiday, to bring breakfast foods and the like and make a "picnic" of it.

Eldest Daughter: "Why do we celebrate July 4th?"
Me: "Because that's the day that one of your ancestors and several other people signed a paper saying they no longer wanted to be British citizens."

Eldest Daughter appears unconvinced. Still, she is only five.