One of the things parents of a two-year-old relish is the development of language skills. Words are an important, ongoing milestone. We were ecstatic when Grace said “More” and “no” and just as happy when she changed to “mas” and “nope”.
Word combinations are even more exciting because we can begin to recognize ideas and understand context. “Gracie ball” shows she knows who she is, what a ball is and who’s ball it is…all in two simple and clear words.
First sentences are the very exciting last stop before the tedious, lifelong journey of correcting grammar begins. “I reading it” feels incredibly advanced and ellicits peals of delight from us. It also ushers in a new era in which Grace gives us information that we might not have already known or—as today’s offering proved—we might not really want to know. From here on out we are not protected from the need to parent by what we do not see. Henceforth, we must avoid awkward parental choices by actively ignoring (while stifling our laughter) the little voice from the back seat that announces matter-of-factly, “I picking nose!”
