I probably shouldn’t be posting this about my daughter, but she has this little quirk that’s so cute I can’t help myself. I don’t know if I’d call it a lisp, per se, but she over-exaggerates her tongue motion when making certain “S” sounds. As in, “c’mon, guyths…let’th go.” I’m sure she’ll grow out of it, just like most kids with their r/w mix up or l/y thing Mr. B had. I don’t know about you, but we’re pretty impressionable around our house and will find ourselves talking back to Miss P with the same little listhp. Not in a mean way, but in the same way you’d tell your son if he wants some “Dodo’s”, even though normal people call them Cherrios. Or in that way that you might find yourself suddenly speaking in a Southern accent when you converse with someone who has a very thick and definitive Southern drawl.
Here’s the thing, though. I find myself talking like this now. Outside of the home. It’s become a habit. Much like the time period when I’d find myself going in to Baby Talk mode to complete strangers after having spent days on end with a small baby and no other contact with human beings. The checkout people at the grocery store must think I’m a nutter. But I also know that one day we’ll be talking to Miss P and it will hit us like a ton of bricks. The quirk will be gone, and with it, her toddler days. It will be replaced by Big Girl words and thoughts, but hopefully the hugs will remain just as consuming and cuddly. Sooner than I’m prepared for, there will be no funny word for this or that. I’m not ready for her to grow up just yet. I want to keep calling her pajamas “Jammas” and revel in watching her sing with her eyes closed. I cherish the fact that she’s not self-conscious about those things yet. And here I will be, singing with my eyes closed as well and twirling like a fairy princessth along with her for as long as she will let me.
Oh I so now how you feel!! My youngest is 6 and though he has lost his toddler things he still has those cute little boy things that I just love, like wanting big hugs from mommy and singing songs from school!! Let me just say my soon to be 13 year old does not do these things! They do grow up way to fast!! I will say though that the early school years are so sweet and cute you do have a lot more cute left!!! Very sweet post!!
This is hilarious! I’m sure I will do the same thing once my little guy can talk. At that point though, I will probably be nostalgic for the days when all he did was coo and make sweet baby sounds at me.
Oh, so cute! They do grow up fast don’t they!
Kathy – My 5-yo son still requests that I do “letters and hearts” at bedtime, where I trace letters and hearts on his back. It’s one of the last things we’re still doing, and I hope it sticks around for a while, as it’s my favorite part of the day.
Adventures – I really do love all the quirky little things they do with speech and language. With my son, I made sure to write them all down!
Courtney – the do, don’t they? And while I’m looking forward to the End of Diapers (whenever that might be), I’ll also miss being able to lovingly pat that padded bottom. It’s all a tradeoff, right?