During the past month or so, I’ve had fun watching as Lorelei’s language skills have developed.  Instead of blank stares (sometimes followed by action), she now responds with a “Yes,” “No,” or “Mmkay!”  We aren’t entirely sure she knows half of what she’s saying, but listening to her has been fun for us.  We just love this new stage!

Unfortunately, along with her new language ability, she’s become even more independent.

“Lorelei, please eat your hotdog.”

“No.”

“Yes.  Eat your hotdog so we can go play.”

“No!”

“Lorelei.  Eat. Your. Hotdog.”

“Chip?”

“Eat your hotdog and THEN you can have a few chips, okay?”

“Mmkay!”

So, we shouldn’t have been surprised when she walked over to her Pa and sat beside him on the couch, taking away the bag of chips he had sitting beside him and crumpling the bag closed.  She quietly pointed to his sandwich.  And, then his mouth.  “Eat, Pa.” She said.  Pa (my dad) tried hard to contain his laughter.

“Can I have some chips, Lorelei?  Please?”

“No.  Pa eat!”  She pointed to his sandwich and then his mouth again.

He took a bite of his sandwich and then said, “Can I have a chip?  I took a bite!”

She unrolled the top of the bag and stuck her hand in to retrieve a chip she then fed to him.

“Can I have another?”

“No.  Pa eat!”

And so it went.  Pa had to eat a bite of sandwich to earn his chips …one bite at a time.

Lesson:  Beware of the rules you make for your toddler.  For one day…they will steal your chips!

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