Something to Say

#6 is 16 months old, and until last week his entire vocabulary consisted of one word, “mama.”  When he first piped up and said my name, I was thrilled.  Most kids say their dad’s name first.  That’s okay because it’s easier to say, but I was delighted that this child asked for me by name.

Until I realized that everything was “mama”…the dog, his father, the TV…

For 7 months this has been his only word.  I was beginning to worry that this one might not be so bright in that looking-for-trouble way that moms do,  His Oma laughed at me and said, “Leave the boy alone.  His life is too good.  What does he have to talk about?  When he has something to say then he will.  Until then, be patient.”

Life must be pretty good for the youngest in our family, because he has had nothing to say.  He smiles at our goofy attempts to get him to speak.  Our repetitions make him laugh and pat our cheeks.

Earlier this week, his dad was changing his diaper and used an ice cold wipe on his little behind. (They got left in the car and were pretty chilly.)  #6 yelped at the shock of cold, looked his father in the eye and declared, “I don’t like it.  I don’t want it.”  just as clear as you please.

Little snot.  All this time we were working on one syllable words and he was figuring out whole sentences.  He still is a man of few words.  He only trots them out when something is wrong and says thank you when we fix it.  That’s my boy.  Happy until things go wrong and then he makes sure the right person knows about it.

I guess this apple has fallen pretty close to the tree after all.