moominmolly | [natalie] weird little kids (Reply)

N: Naalie learn to read?
Me: You want to learn to read?
N: Yes.
Me: Um, okay!
N: Naalie learn to read H. Naalie learn letters learn to read.
Me: ...great! Let's teach you some letters.
N: Naalie read a book Naalie SELF! Naalie read a book MOMMY!

Clearly this whole scam where only the adults have the means to read books is calling for an uprising of the toddler-proletariat! And the whole thing hinges on the knowledge of the letter H. Those books where animals learn to read in a day with the help of a throng of fresh-faced snot-free school children don't really help her figure out that it's actually kinda complicated. H, in particular, seems mysterious to her, as far as I can tell; also, she thinks I'm pulling a fast one over on her when I distinguish between P and B. She gives me that "silly mommy! you are so kidding me!" look.

Anyway, she tried to rope the yeopard into her scheme when she told me that the CAT wanted to learn to read, too. And she's clearly bought the Sammy the Seal-type propaganda, since she also asked me if she could sit at a desk, and whether she could go to school, maybe even with

y1k3z.

The kids are pretty interested in books, and sometimes they show a whole lot of interest in the grownup books lying around. For example, I've been slowly making my way through this, and when Sylvana (aka "Yanna" to the under-3 set) asked

dilletante to read it to her, and he read the title, she then jumped up and down on the sofa excitedly saying "YANNA DERRIDA! YANNA DERRIDA!" Yanna Derrida!

Natalie made a recipe the other day for a bowl of soup! It seemed to consist of a plastic bowl filled with a bunch of letters. She was willing to go the extra mile and eat it, though. That's my girl! Any length for a joke.

Oh, and she corrected me. I told her it was time to put on her jacket because we were going outside and she pointed at the garment in question and told me, "Mommy NO that's a jacket, mommy! That's a SWEATER." Oh! Well. Actually, you're right. I didn't explain that I meant "jacket" in a somewhat more generic sense, meaning "a separate layer that you put on just to go outside when it's cold or wet out", rather than "a short coat that ends at or above your hips and closes in the front", because in fact she was totally right. Later on, though, she said something about her "foot fingers" and I was all, "...toes?" (catching on a little too slowly, as I often do), but at least she was graceful about using "toes" in the next go-round of that thought.

Last night she ate half a bag of spinach, with cheese. Today she ate more before noon than I've seen her eat in a day. I might have to go get new pants for her. Didn't she just grow an inch LAST week?