I had an odd interaction with a fellow parent the other day .
His adorable and precocious two-and-a-half-year-old daughter was trying to talk to mini — asking her the same question over and over — and mini was behaving, well, like a nine month old: batting her hand at the girl’s face and babbling incoherently. The little girl was clearly frustrated by mini’s [lack of] response and pushed her face closer to mini’s, stating, angrily: “she not listening!”
“She’s too little to understand,” I apologized, before diverting the girl’s attention by asking her about the toy she was holding in her hand.
Her father, who was crouching at his daughter’s side and had been observing the interaction with rapt attention, shook his head and said: “No, she’s not too little to understand, Demeter.* She just doesn’t have the words to express herself yet.” He lingered over his daughter for a second and then turned and smiled at me knowingly.
What are your reactions to this?
I’m going to withhold my thoughts and see what the smart magpie set has to say about this exchange. Because I have a lot of thoughts on it, and I still find myself texting Mr. Magpie at odd hours of the workday with follow up commentary.
Stay tuned.
*Name changed for the purposes of this story, but trust me — it was equally out there.
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Post-Script: New Baby Discoveries
+This toothpaste with a corresponding gum cleanser found its way into mini’s stocking. (This stuff also gets good reviews.) Incidentally, this made it into Mr. Magpie’s stocking! I guess Santa wants us to have extra clean teeth this year…AND ALSO. When mini is old enough, I’ll get her this toddler toothbrush. Seems like a smart design, and also kind of reminds me of the monsters in Stranger Things…
+Ordered these on the good word of a magpie reader!
+I can’t wait to order mini her first pair of these — maybe for her birthday? I’m torn on color: do I go with timeless yellow or girly-girl pink? Speaking of boots, I’m not a huge fan of Ugg, but these are too damn cute!
+I cleaned up at the Polo baby sale, snagging her a few polos (marked down to like $10!), this sweater I’d been ogling for the better part of the season, and a few one-pieces including this and this that will be easy to layer under her Polarn Y. Pyret snowsuit (also love the print on this snowsuit!!!)
+This play set is too cute.
+If you like traditional baby clothes, snag a set or two of these before they sell out! I had been dying for a pair for mini’s Christmas outfit, but couldn’t find them anywhere. Seem to have been restocked in some sizes! Also — these are amazing. The perfect christening shoe for a baby boy.
+A friend of my mother-in-law’s gifted mini this adorable playset by Maileg, and I am OBSESSED WITH IT. And also everything else by the brand, too.
+OMG. Just stop. While I’m wearing this?
+For a little boy: this backpack in the cowboy print?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME. So cute. (And the matching snackpack.) PS: This company is cool: “For every State bag purchased, State hand-delivers a backpack – packed with essential tools for success – to an American child in need; but our commitment goes beyond simply a material donation.” Love.