Posts tagged guest blogger

We have all heard the expression “kids say the darnedest things” and now having my own kids I see the reality in it. I have a very verbal two-year-old girl Hannah. Hannah has given me insight into her two-year brain and how she interprets things, the good and the bad.

We had taken yet another trip to our pediatrician’s office, our second home. While I was at the counter checking in, Hannah was looking at the fish and playing with the waiting room toys. As I was finishing up at the counter I hear my little bean talking to another little girl. You would think this little blonde haired, blue-eyed cutie would be talking about the fish or toys. Nope. Not my Hannah. She turned into my mini-me and there was nothing I could do. The other little girl was standing on top of one of the little kid stools next to the little table. There was Hannah standing tall with her left hand on her hip and right pointer finger in the air telling the little girl to “sit down on your bummer right now!” I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or creep back out to my car. Clearly I was embarrassed but not because she created a scene but more because she learned it from me. Obviously it was not a Mom of the Year moment, but her interpretation was not how I intended it and impression well it was pretty good. I have learned to put hand down and pointer finger away to hopefully avoid another embarrassing moment in the doctor’s office waiting room.

Hannah is going through a phase right now where she is calling people boy or girl when talking about them or to them. Perfect teaching moment! During lunch one day I start one of my ‘Mom wants you to be the smartest two year old’ quizzes. I start naming family members and asking whether they are a boy or girl. My quizzes must be paying off because she got all of them right except one, my Mom, affectionately known as Nana. Mommy: Is Hannah a girl or a boy?

Hannah: Girl.

Mommy: Is Ryan a girl or a boy?

Hannah: Boy.

Mommy: Is Mommy a girl or a boy?

Hannah: Girl.

Mommy: Is Daddy a girl or a boy?

Hannah: Boy.

Mommy: Is Nana a girl or a boy?

Hannah: Nana’s a beauty.

I asked her again and got the same answer. It took me a minute but then I understood. Since Hannah was born Nana has been calling her beauty, Nana’s beauty or beauty girl. Even though my Mom is a beauty it wasn’t the answer I was expecting; but the teacher in me was happy it was in a complete sentence.

You know those days when you wake up and your hair looks like it has been teased, sprayed and not brushed for days. This daily occurrence in our house, most of the time for me as well as Hannah, has been named kooky hair. It would always be my husband or I remarking at Hannah’s kooky hair with giggling and mirror glances. Over time she has come to appreciate and verbalize her love of kooky hair. One day our family joke left our house and followed us to dinner at the 99. Hannah always says hi to anyone passing by, whether you are looking at her or not. The 99 was no exception. She said hi to every customer, waiter and waitress that passed by our table. Some of them stopped for a quick toddler chat others continued on their way. A pleasant mannered waitress made a stop at our table. She was probably in her twenties, wore lots of jewelry, had several piercings and most importantly a very “trendy” haircut. This conversation went something like this:

Waitress: Hi! How old are you?

Hannah: Two.

Waitress: You are a cutie!

Hannah: (giggling) Look at your kooky hair.

Oh no here we go again, another not a Mom of the Year moment. Do we laugh or somewhat reprimand her? At that moment I wished her verbal skills were lacking. My husband and I both pretended as if it hadn’t happened. The waitress quickly turned on her heel and went back to her tables. It was difficult to have a conversation with a two year about what to say at home and what to say out and about.

Hannah has learned a few things and thankfully so have I. She is my first so I know these learning and teaching moments for both Mom and child will continue. Hopefully I will have some Mom of the Year moments mixed in with those not Mom of the Year moments.