Proclamations!

I do sometimes read silly romance novels -- this works in phases. Just got out of one. However, T has already become used to seeing the M&Bs around and even though she still can't read, she seems to identify them well.

The other day, T and I walked into a big bookstore and I went about choosing gift wrapping papers while she stood by. Suddenly, she moved a little away and exclaimed loudly, "Ma LOOK! Your favourite books are here!" I turned and saw that she was indicating the M& B rack. (!!)

You know kids. The more I tried to shush her and distract her, the more excited she became that she had located her mom's 'favourite' books and perhaps helped her mom in her shopping!!

Telling tales

I have from time to time told T over the last 2 years that nobody is to look into my stuff - handbag, draws, cupboards, etc. without my being there or at the very least, my permission. Guess she has got the point...

I was in the loo this evening when my mother asked me for her medical report which I had collected. I told her from the loo that I had it in my handbag on the bed and that she could take from there.

She went away to do that.

Then came T, knocking on the loo door. She came with a complaint and sounded most outraged...

"Amma, this paati (grandmom) is kodanjifying (rummaging) in your handbag!!"

Grinning to myself that I had created quite a good 'personal' spy, I told her "It's OK, I told her to."

T said "Ok" relievedly and went away...

Huh?

Today, T checked with me suddenly, "Ma, timing is everything isn't it?"

Stunned, I agreed.

On further questioning, she said she came across this phrase in 'Barbie and the Diamond Castle'.

Hope and Think

T has a way of equating the word 'hope' with 'think'. If she thinks she has many colour pencils, she will say, "I hope I have enough colour pencils..."

One day when T and I were in the loo and I was brushing her teeth, her father K came in and announced: "Someone has been messing around with my mail as the envelopes all have somethings scribbled on them. Someone had better stop scribbling on them or someone is going to get a whack from me." So saying, he left the loo.

Tara missed a beat and then turned to me and said, "Ma, I hope that 'someone' is you. If so, I think you are going to get a whack from Appa."

!!!

This Corporation...

One day when T and I were driving back from school as usual, T did what she likes to when her water bottle has only a little water left -- she pours the water into the cup-shaped lid of the bottle and drinks from that. That day, she removed the lid but seemed to be having some difficulty which I did not really observe, as I usually try not to take my eyes of the road for anything...

"Ohhhhh!" she exclaimed in annoyance. I asked her what happened. She replied, "This Corporation! Because of this corporation, I am not able to drink my water." I was amused that a) she even knew there was a word like 'Corporation' and also that b) the Corporation (Chennai Corporation) had something to do with water... and so I asked her what was wrong.

Said she, "This Corporation has made the roads bad and so, I cannot drink my water now."She got that right, eh?

Spelling a challenge...

Another drive to music class.

To keep ourselves entertained, T and I played a spelling game. But she was getting frustrated as she only knows the spellings of a few words. And so, she began asking me just to see whether I could answer without hesitation. After all, she would not be able to say if the spelling was right or wrong.

She would say, "bridge" and I would spell it, then came "building", "police station" and so on until she decided I needed a real challenge. So she puffed herself up and said, "Now, spell Mahendra Singh Dhoni!"

My other half guffawed on hearing this story, apparently proud of his smart daughter, as he was convinced I would not know how to spell his name, what with him being a cricketer and all. Hmph.

A Labradog.

Tara and I were driving to paatu (Carnatic vocal) class yesterday and she was a bit bored during the drive. Desperate for a distraction, I spotted a man walking a Labrador Retriever outside his home and to distract her, I said, "oh look there, T, a DOG!". Unfortunately, she could not look in time and I had no intention of slowing down on a busy one-way and so I said, "It's Ok..." But like all curious kids, she asked "What kind of dog?How will it look?"

So I told her, "The dog was just like Sandy..." (MY late dog, whose pictures she has seen).

And so T came back with "Oh, you mean a Labravary?" I burst out laughing and so she corrected herself..."No, no, a labraDOG! No? No?"

Needless to say the rest of the drive was spent in laughing (by me) and some uncomprehending, sheepish laughter (by T).

She is five and I REFUSE to correct her little words because I want to cherish them forever...and for as long as I can...until she gets wise, that is.