As S Heard It: CruciFived

My second daughter is quite a verbose toddler, if there is such a thing. Between 8-9 months, she said one of her earliest words (which caught me, my husband, the yaya and our pediatrecian by surprise) - "elmo." Our doctor was trying to distract her with a dancing Elmo, and she asked, "Who is this, Shobe?" To which S answered - very clearly - "Ewmo." Whoa. She started speaking her first few words before she turned one, which is normal. A few months after she turned one, she started talking in 2-3 word phrases. By the time she was two, she was speaking in full sentences just like the little person that she is. Being the competive mom that I am (aren't we all? Even just a teeny weeny bit? Come on....) I am led to believe (by my and my husband's illusions) that she's quite advanced. 

I actually think that she is verbose because she has a keen sense of hearing. She has a knack for repeating phrases, songs and rhymes from memory, after hearing them a few times. However, given that her vocabulary is limited - she usually has to just rely on the what the word "sounds" like to repeat it. One time, she said she wanted "frangled eggs." She refers to a bath as "baff," and she refers to her "thumb" as her "fumb." (Darn that soft 'th' sound!) And so, this often makes for some very interesting conversations.

As Easter approached, and I knew K had been learning about Jesus dying on the cross in school, I mentioned that it was soon Easter. That opens up the question of what is Easter - and so I talk about Jesus rising from the dead, after he was crucified. K knows about crucifixion since she had been quizzing me on the Ways of the Cross posted around the church hall. And here comes Little Miss Bionic Ears....

Me: Yes... It's almost Easter and on Good Friday, Jesus is crucified.

K: Why Mommy?

Me: Jesus was crucified on the cross, he dies to save us from our sins. But don't worry, because he is alive... he rose up after 3 days.

S: Yeah, like Achi, Mommy.

Me: Like who?

S: Like K! She's five! And Jesus is five, too, right?

Owwwkay. That's how stories are made. I hope you and your families have a meaningful Easter celebration. For me, it's a break that I've been looking forward to for sometime. My four month hiatus from blogging has not been without its own stories... and after exactly 4 months, I hope to get my groove back,

Don't forget to pay your taxes! It's April 15!

K's Point of View: Of Working Moms and Non Working Moms

One of my daily struggles is my eldest daughter telling me that she wants me to stay at home, stay with her, and not go to work. It's not an exaggeration when I say that I literally have a teary eyed child in my arms 4 out of every 5 working days. If you have any tips on how to talk to a four year old about why a mom has to work, do share them with me. I go by the route of explaining that I need to work so I can afford to provide her with certain things. I know it should not be all about money... there's fulfillment, self actualization, the debt from grad school.... But those will have to wait until she is older. 

Now after all the speeches made... it seems to have stuck on her mind.

K: Mom, I want you to go to school everyday and pick me up.

Me: I'm sorry I cannot do that because I have to go to the office and work.

K: But Chloe's* mom is in school everyday.

Now this is where I answered wrong (and I am sincerely sorry, no offense meant.)

Me: Maybe she does not have to work?

K: Why? Because she has lots of money?

See why I shouldn't have said that? I am sure Chloe's* mom is there everyday (and "everyday" can be an exaggeration from a nursery student) for a good reason. So I tried to take it back...

Me: Or maybe... Her mom works near your school?

K: Yeah, maybe she works IN the school. 

Me: Yes, maybe,

It ended with me asking her to check her other classmates and see if their moms are there everyday. I hope she does not spread the word... I hope I don't start a nursery class mutiny with 20 four year olds insisting their moms be in school everyday! 

Are you a working mom? How do you explain to your child?

*Not her real name.

A Second Opinion: The second child's view

My second child started forming her opinions at a very young age. This makes for very interesting conversations between her and her sister. The older sister has much stronger views, and is less swayed, hence her failed requests (to me) usually end in tears. On one particular occasion when I (again) would not give in to the big sister's demands:

Big sis: booohoo... I want this....

Me: No, K, I told you not everything you want you can get.

Little sis: It's ok, K. Don't cry.

Big sis: boohoo....

Little sis: Don't cry K, Santa Claus is coming to town.

Yes, go get it from Santa, why don't you? :) 

K's Point of View: Falling (Down) Asleep

Kids really do say the darn-est things.

Me: K, just close your eyes until you fall asleep.

K: Mommy, why do you say fall asleep?

Me: Because that's what you're supposed to do.

K: But I don't want to fall asleep... because... because... fall is means falling down... I don't want to fall. I will just sleep.

K's Point of View: Sorry does the job

Tonight K spilled water on the bed - not just on her bed - but on OUR bed, the bed all of us sleeps in. We had to change the sheets, and the mattress protector. I wasn't happy about it, but I held my tongue.
I survey the mess quietly - not saying a word.

K: I'm sorry, Mommy.
Me: Next time, you have to be more careful.
K: Ok Mommy.

As I survey the mess, the rare nagger in me pops out.

Me: K, see what you've done... now we have to change everything.
K: But I said sorry already, Mom....

I shut up until all the sheets are replaced.

Me: K, do you think when you say sorry, everything will be ok?
K: Yes.
Me: Why?
K: Because I said sorry already - why do you get angry at me two times?

For the second time tonight, I got shut up by a three year old.

Me: Ok, K, I forgive you; but when you say sorry, you also have to know what you did wrong and try not to do it again.

I just have to have the last word. I have to admit though, tonight was a simple lesson in forgiving and forgetting.

K's Point of View: Like who?

Confession: I am one of those parents who allow my child to watch tv while eating. Before I had kids, I said I will not allow this habit. Around 10months into K's childhood... I gave in. I have various reasons  for allowing it - but deep inside me, I have convinced myself that she will outgrow this by the time she's five. I have 2 years to go, so help me God.

The other day, she was again having dinner at her small table... but the TV was turned off (Yippeee). I always take those opportunities to let her know how pleased I am.

Me: K, that's very good, you're having dinner without watching TV.
K: Yes Mom... because you know, your eyes will come out (with matching gesture of eyes coming out).
Me: Your eyes will come out?
K: Yes - yaya told me if you watch tv all the time, your eyes will come out.

Intermission: My grandma has had one eyeball removed, due to a bout with a brain tumor more than twenty years ago. K is a bit scared of her. When K refers to eyes coming out, I always assume she's referring to my grandmom. And I always take that chance to tell her about grandma's sickness.

Me: Oh, okay. So your eyes will come out, huh?
K: Yes (eyebrows going up and down, hand gesturing that her eyes will pop out.)
Me: And when your eyes come out, you will be like who? (in my mind, she will say "thay-mah" - or my maternal grandmother)
K: (with her mouth full) pungeponge sparepants.
Me: Who?
K: Pungeponge Sparepants!

Oh ok. At least watching TV has taught her NOT to watch too much TV.

K's Point of View: Still the favored one

Saying goodbye to K on Monday mornings are particularly difficult. Today, as I led her down the stairs for breakfast, we had this conversation.

K: Mommy, will you feed me?

Me: Not today, K, mom has to go to the office.

K: Aaaaw. But I like you to stay here.

Me: Mommy has to go to office to work. Remember those ballet shoes and dress you like? Mommy has to work so I can buy those.

K: I like pink! (how easily distracted!)

Me: So you stay here with Yaya A, and mom will get ready for work now ok?

K: But mommy, I like you to stay. How about si Papa nalang? (How about Papa?)

Me: What?

K: You stay here and Papa go to office!  

(DH has a schedule that's a lot more flexible than mine.... I don't think he'd like to switch with me though!)

I wish it were that easy, K! 

Fast forward to later in the afternoon, when one Yaya asked her "if you like papa to go to office, why do you keep following him around the house?"

K: Eh kasi mama is not here. (Because mama is not here).

2 points for Mom!

K's Point of View: I don't like that song

On the eve of K's birthday, DH was putting her too sleep, singing her a lullaby. I noticed she was tearing up. I asked her why she was tearing up... she was quiet for a few minutes, until I gave her a hug and asked again. DH and I were seriously disturbed.

K: Kasi (because) I don't like that song.
Me: Oh. Why, what song do you like?
K: Happy Birthday.

We love you K. The memories you give us are all priceless.

K's Point of View: Because I'm Two

birthdaydepot.com

Me: When is your birthday?
K: December (she likes December because of her cousin B and her Dad's birthday, Christmas, and all the presents).
Me: No, it's April... April 3.
K: No, April 2.
Me: No, April 3.
K: Nooo, April 2.
Me: Why April 2?
K: Kase (Because) I'm 2 eh.

K's Point of View: High up there

K has been learning about different kinds of transportation in toddler class. Hence, I've been pointing out cars, trains, buses, motorcycles, etc. to her. On a recent car trip out - the MRT passed in front of us so I pointed it out to her.

Me: Look K, it's a train!

K: Wow.

Me: Would you like to ride the train?

K: No.

Me: Why? It's nice and fast...

K: (Looking up at the rails) It's high up there eh! I can't go up.

Mommy forgot to show her the stairs.

K's Point of View: Who has colds?

I started a blog because I wanted to share my life with my kids some day. I also wanted to share with them bits and pieces of their growing up years. I tried handwriting notes to my eldest daughter - and I almost filled up a small notebook - but I was never consistent! Worst of all - my husband says I have very bad handwriting. Today, I chanced upon a fellow mom's blog - Trisha's playtime break - where Mom Trisha shared the darndest things that her 2 year old son Matteo says. And so - here goes my own version - K's Point of View - from my toddler to you.

October 2011

K has developed a cold - and I was concerned that this may have come from school. So I ask her, "Is there someone in your classroom who has a cold?" She answers, "Yes!" I ask, "Who?" And she answers..."K!" 

How do you argue with that?