Reality is just a matter of perspective
When you're home full-time with a two-year-old, things that go on around you aren't always exactly as they appear, at least from her perspective. And often, it's easier and even wiser to give in to your child's view of the order of things and see them for what they otherwise might be.
As examples, witness the following conversations I had with Zienna during the past week (with grammar cleaned up ever so slightly for the sake of clarity):
Realizing that from her perspective, Zienna was correct in each of these cases made me stop and appreciate her innocent, straightforward view of the world. It really is how you look at things that matters, after all. And when you avoid the adult tendency to overanalyze things—a bad habit I'll readily own up to—then suddenly, a remarkably refreshing simplicity takes over.
Lesson learned, courtesy of my two-year-old. Now if I can just remember it.
As examples, witness the following conversations I had with Zienna during the past week (with grammar cleaned up ever so slightly for the sake of clarity):
Zi: Daddy, what your name?OK, you win, Zienna. And I'm glad you want to call me "Daddy!"
Me: My name is "Scott."
Zi: Unh-uh. Name's Daddy.
Me: No, I AM your daddy, but my name is Scott.
Zi: Unh-uh. Name's Daddy.
Zi: Look, Daddy. Hot dog's all gone.Yeah, I guess it did, didn't it?
Me: Where did the hot dog go? Into your tummy?
Zi: No, hot dog went in my mouth.
Zi: What you doing, Daddy?Well, yeah, but...
Me: Checking to see if the milk in your cup is yucky.
Zi: What it smell like?
Me: It smells like milk.
Zi: Unh-uh. It smell like cup!
Realizing that from her perspective, Zienna was correct in each of these cases made me stop and appreciate her innocent, straightforward view of the world. It really is how you look at things that matters, after all. And when you avoid the adult tendency to overanalyze things—a bad habit I'll readily own up to—then suddenly, a remarkably refreshing simplicity takes over.
Lesson learned, courtesy of my two-year-old. Now if I can just remember it.
Labels: zienna; Zs say
posted by Scott at
1:16:00 PM
2 Comments:
Don't worry, when you're a bit older, you'll probably start talking like that (again).
News flash: I already am "a bit older." And who says I'm not already talking like that? I said the grammar was cleaned up, but I didn't say WHOSE grammar!
Actually, Kelly and I have never talked to any of our kids in baby talk, instead speaking to them like little adults. That's probably why Zach and Zoë's respective teachers have commented on both their vocabularies and communications skills. And if anything, having the older kids to keep up with is moving Zienna along even more quickly!
--Scott
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