“Chips please Mama.”
“No chips tonight, DorkySon.”
“Chips please Mama.”
“No chips tonight DorkySon. Get out of the freezer please.”
Silence….
“Oooooooh! DorkySon’s fingers stuck in freezer Mama!”
There is something of a language explosion going on over here. I know that all parents must go through this, but I find it amazing that DorkySon, who a few months ago was unable to join more than two words together, is now able to spout complete sentences, and communicate exactly what he wants to me.
Spending two mornings a week at nursery has led to a noticeable difference in his toddler chat. I presume that having to communicate with people who aren’t as au fait with DorkySonSpeak as I am means that he has to work harder to pronounce his words and think about how to get his meaning across.
What I love most about this development phase is not just that DorkySon and I are now more able to have two-way conversations than we have been previously; it’s what those conversations are revealing to me about his wee character.
I am learning what sort of thing he finds funny, because when we are walking along he will, completely out of the blue, giggle and tell me something he remembers from reading a book earlier (“What a bad dog, stealing Mama’s party hat!”).
I’m learning that like me, he has a lot of memories associated with food (“Mmmm, watermelon, like we ate on holiday.” … “C and N are coming! And bringing cupcakes!”).
And I am learning that, like DorkyDad, he is a real charmer. I was getting ready to go out the other night and he came into the room, walked up and patted my leg, saying, “Mama has a pretty dress.” Earlier today I was showing him pictures on my iPod of his Canadian cousins, who he’ll be meeting soon. “Not that picture,” he said. “The picture with the pretty blue dress.”
The only flipside to the language explosion, which everyone warned me about, is the discovery of “No”. And “not”. And “doesn’t”.
“DorkySon doesn’t nap, Mama.”
“Not put jacket on, Mama. DorkySon doesn’t wear jackets.”
And, worst of all, “no kiss, Mama.”
Two years old, and he can already break my heart!
But, and this is a big but, I am warned there is worse to come… in the form of “Why, Mama?” I hope we have a way to go before he discovers that one.
Dorkymum | Stories from Tasmania 
“But why?”
And as soon as they’ve worked out that “because” is not an answer, especially if used like “because I said so”, delivered in an increasingly frustrated manner, you’re doomed.
Oh no. It’s just going to be one thing after another, isn’t it?!
Ohhh, I’m not looking forward to the time when my 11 month old has enough words to break my heart!
I stumbled on your blog through wordpress. Love your sense of humor and your activism!
Thanks so much – I’ve just been checking out your blog too, and your 11 month old is so adorable! Love your craftiness – I am completely useless in that department, but DorkySon is lucky enough to have a very talented knitter for a Granny so he has some funky handmade stuff too. Hope you find time to check back in here sometimes 🙂
Ooh yes “why” is an awful one. My LO now says “don’t tell me off mummy” or don’t say shush it’s not nice” etc whenever I try to be stern, it’s very hard to stay stern when met with the sterner look and attitude in a 2 year old!
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