Spotty Record

Doesn't anybody blog anymore??

Pattern Classification with the Raggedys:

Andy (2 1/2) was sorting his sister's shirts.

He came to one shirt, and proclaimed it "Polka Dot!"

The next shirt was solid, and he held it up, smiled, and said, "No-ka dot!"

Zero Years Old

Driving carpool is always a surefire way to hear some preschool pearls of wisdom.

Our neighbor's son, S was talking to my daughter Ann (both 4).

S: The last time (another boy) was at my house for a playdate, my brother N was zero years old.

Ann (while wrinkling nose): What's zero?

S (shrugs): I'm not sure, but it means that you don't have any teeth yet.

Concentration

My niece, A (3) was walking last week with my sister-in-law L. They passed by a house with an ornate Nativity scene, complete with large figurines hunched seriously over the baby.

A turned to her mother and said, "Look how hard they are davening (praying)at that bris! They sure have a lot of kavanah (intention, concentration)!"

Advance Planning

Me (rummaging through Ann's lunchbag after preschool): Why didn't you eat any of the melon I cut up for your snack?

Ann (4): I just didn't want to have a stummyache.

Me: Melon gives you a stomache ache?

Ann: No, but if I ate it all, I would have a stummyache for the cupcake from (boy in class)'s birthday party!

Thanks for the Compliment!

My parents were coming over to visit, and to take the "bigger kids" out to the playground. From the way, they called to say that they wanted to change plans and take the kids to the beach instead (more time for me to rest with the baby!).

As I raced around packing different gear, changing clothes, and applying sunscreen, Ann (4) remarked, "You're very responsible, Mom!" [Since when did I become 'Mom'?!]

"Thanks, Ann."

"You're welcome, Mom."

Five minutes later:

Ann: "What does responsible mean, anyway?"

Wildlife

I'm going back in time here to something that made me smile about a year and a half ago when Andy was a couple of months old and I started bathing him on the bath sling with Ann next to him in the big bath.

Ann (a little more than 2 and a half at the time): Is the new baby a zoo animal or a farm animal?

Me: What? Your brother is not an animal at all. (Yet . . .)

Ann: But I think he's like a pet.

Me: Why?

Ann: Because look, he has a little tail!



Don't hate me one day for sharing this one, kids!

A Surprise for Mommy

As we were leaving preschool today, Ann pointed out a row of painted projects that were drying in the hallway outside the classroom. They seemed to be little cups full of earth, a popsicle stick, and some beans.

"Mommy," said Ann, "Do you know what's coming up after Lag Ba'Omer?"

"What?"

"Mother's Day."

"Really?"

"Yes. And we will say thank you for you doing things for us. Like giving us food, or things to eat, or just everything."

"That's very nice, Ann."

"Also, we will give you something. It's a surprise, so I'm not going to tell you that it's a plant! I'll tell you what the surprise is going to be when you open it!"

"I can't wait, Ann!"

What's in a Name?

Wednesday is recycling day around here, and it was time to get the pile of recyclable paper out to the trash can.

One piece of paper in the pile was a plain, white envelope with Ann's name on it in red marker - the envelope that had contained her "Preschool Graduation" invitation (!).

Ann (3) snatched it out of the pile, and dramatically exclaimed, "My name!! You can't throw my name into the garbage! I need to keep my name for a long, long time!"

Private - Keep Out

In light of the recent rains, Ann (3) has taken to insisting that all her clothes are "wet from the storm" whenever we get home.

Today after preschool, she took everything off and was a little slow to get dressed in something "dry".

"Ann," I said, "You can start by getting another pair of underwear."

Her reply: "Um, Mommy? How about if we don't talk about things that are 'privacy'. Okay?"