language lessons

a couple of years ago, I interviewed harvey karp, the author of those wildly popular “happiest baby/toddler on the block” books, for a story I wrote for a parenting magazine. one of the greatest tips that he gave me, which I’ve never forgotten but have only actually acted upon once or twice, is to remember to record my kids’ voices while they’re little. photos and videos are essential, obviously, but their voices…when they lose that squeaky, chirpy sound, it will be a very sad day.

and then there’s the way in which they say things. my big girl says “wit” instead of “with” (as in, “will you color wit me?”). like her mother, she really likes to “lax,” as in, “mommy, i’m going to sit on the couch and lax with my books.” the other night, as I was headed out the door for margaritas with a couple of girlfriends, she hugged me goodnight and told me that she “loved me really much.” and then there’s “last year yesterday,” which is what she says when referring to anything in the past: “remember last year yesterday, when we went to see my cousins at the beach?”

last week, we were chatting during bedtime, and I tried to explain the concept of telling each other the best and worst parts of our day–the “rose” and the “thorn.” The next day in the car, she asked me and my husband to tell her our “roses and horns.” I haven’t corrected her yet.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend–high on the roses, low on the horns.