True story.
We all know that we are not supposed to talk "baby talk" to our children. Other than casual references to bankies (blankets, obviously) and tays (which means "bottle", it is short for the French word "bouteille"), my ex-husband and I never once dumb-downed our vocabulary to Son in our lives.
I remember a day when he was two years old and sassed back at me, much the same way two year olds have sassed back at their mothers since the dawn of time. Did I say, "Watch your tone, boy!"? Did I say, "Wait til your father gets home!"?
Nooooooo. I literally said, "Son, I strongly recommend you reconsider the manner in which you are addressing me." (And then shot him the Mummy Look Of Death.)
Seriously, THAT is how I spoke to my son as an infant.And I offer up this particular nugget NOT as an example of my superior linguistic training, but simply as proof that I am such a dork about English that I couldn't even manage to tell off a toddler in less than 14 words.
(oh, and the Mummy Look of Death? I had that sucker DOWN. My best friend, who was visiting with her own kids for a play date, once saw me shoot The Look at son, and commented, "Holy Shit, I want to obey you when you look like that!")
1 comment:
ha ha I am the exact same way! I always speak to the children that way, long winded detailed lectures rather than as some parents do, talking AT the child rather than TO the child. And it does show because I now have a 4 year old who speaks brilliantly even if his need to question and discuss every single thing drives some people crazy...it just endears him to me more! :)
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