Language development

I think my favorite intellectual pursuit around parenting is to study (read:observe) language development.  If you have ever studied a language, you know you can get pretty far, and think you can speak really well and then someone says, congrats! you can speak as well as a 5 year old now.  Crap.  That was a lot of hard work to get to that level.  Now I know just how much a child can and does know about verb conjugation, tenses, genders... everything.  It really is amazing. 

A few weeks ago, B wanted me to break down the differences between A-partment and Com-partment.  She wanted to know how they were different and in what ways they were the same.  I didn't use them both in the same sentences, or point out that they might be the same.  She is teaching herself about root words. 

Then, the other day I was folding clothes in front of the fireplace.  We were chatting and sorting, she was actually pretty good at the task.  But, then she started to run through one pile on the way to the next.  I told her if she kept messing up my piles, she would be fired. 

Tears. Sobbing, freak out.  TEARS.

Who could possibly be that upset about getting fired from a laundry job.  Here is where some would say knock it off and get back to work.  Instead, I said "words B.  Words.  What are you upset about?" 

"Sniff.... Don't... throw... me... in ... the... FIRE.   THAT IS MEAN."   

Ouch.  Glad I had the time to clarify that situation.

And then the cutest of all.. We have taught the girls that they can ask for help and we will come, but if they need running, spring-to-action-or-something-bad-might-happen kind of help, they should say "ayudame."  It has worked so well, it is so nice to know that when they need help or they might bite, or push or snatch a toy that they can pause, say words and we are there. 

There is nothing cuter in this world then the way ms A says "Ahhh OOH Da MAY, Ahhh OOH Da MAY."  But if you hear it, run because she is about to push over the little R.