From the Mouths of Babes
For all of you who live with, take care of, or know small children, you know what the phrase "From the mouths of babes" means.
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Little James (3 years old) was 'washing his hands' at daycare one day. Only in his version of washing, he found great pleasure in using the soap dish as a catalyst for sending water splashing all over his playmates.
When 'caught in the act', he was scolded: "James, you know better than that. It makes me very displeased when you throw water in the house. Please stand in the time-out corner to remember why you mustn't throw water in the house."
To this James replied: "Well, it makes me very displeased when you put me in time-out!"
Carol M. - California
One afternoon I was trying to get my three children, Nick 3 1/2 years and Zach and Nate 9 months old, ready to go out and run some errands. Nick kept asking where we were going and I told him that we were running errands and he kept asking "Where, where Mom?" In exhasperation I said "Crazy!!" As we were pulling out of the driveway he quietly asked, "Mom, do you think Crazy has room for us?" I laughed for hours over that one!
Amy Brown
As we finished our lunch one day, I was busy helping the 4 year old twins clean up their hands and faces and clearing dishes from the table while 2 year old Nathan pleaded with me to get him down from his highchair. After asking me a few times and waiting very patiently (for a 2 year old), he finally hollered "GET ME DOWN!!!" I responded, "Just one more minute." Well, little Nathan let out a huge sigh and said "I SO FWUSTWATED!"
Margo
One of my favorite questions to ask children: How old do you think I am? The answer is always fun - though it is essential one is not *age* sensitive :) The answers I have received range from 4 years old to 200. Of course, my favorite answers are those from the children who think I must certainly be 17 (or nearly that).
Try this game, I think you'll like it. ~~ Christine Maniscalco
Here's another story from my (recent) files:
While on vacation - visiting my very good friends/former employers and their adorable 3 1/2 year old daughter Megan, I delighted in bringing Megan to all the various tourist spots and shopping malls.
While on one of our many shopping sojourns, we visited a Macy's Christmas Store and Megan delighted in looking at the many 'awesome' ornaments and decorated trees. Needless to say, with so many fragile ornaments within reach of such a small child, I was more than a bit nervous that an ornament would drop and break at her little hands. I constantly, yet gently, reminded her that the ornaments were fragile and she needed to only touch the ones that I approved first.
After some time of looking around, we made our purchase and left the store - all ornaments intact.
On to the next store - Mervyn's - where there were more glistening and glittering ornaments for little hands to reach. Again, I reminded Megan not to touch the ornaments unless I told her it was okay.
Yet, as fate would have it, an ornament was broken - by MY clumsy handling. I knocked it right off the shelf. After telling a salesman that there was a broken ornament, I took the opportunity to reinforce in Megan the meaning of the word 'fragile' and why I kept telling her to be careful.
Her response: "But Christi, I didn't break the ornament - YOU did!"
All I could do was agree, and try to stifle the giggle that was welling up in me. Though I hadn't intended for anyone to think that she was the one who caused the ornament to fall, she surely wasn't willing to let anyone think that she was to blame. ~~ Christine Maniscalco
One day, Justin (2 1/2 yrs) brought a diaper to me, telling me that he needed is diaper changed because he was 'poopy'. When I opened his diaper, I found it was only wet. His response, "I 'fahted'", then, on second thought, he said: "No, the -neighbor- 'fahted'."
Though I try not to encourage the use of such words, I couldn't help laugh at his silly excuse.
The story doesn't end there, though, because the next day, the scene replayed itself. Justin brought his diaper and asked to have it changed. Upon discovering that he was only wet again, he said: "The neighbor 'fahted' again!"
He's quite a gem. ~~ Jody
I must tell you about a 2 yr old I was caring for.
One of the Books I enjoyed reading to all children is by Robert Munch "Love you forever" (if you have never read this book run out and get it, it's an amazing story of Love) At one point in the book the parent says "This Kid is Driving Me Crazy". I sometimes used this line in our day to day life, especially when i was having a piticularly difficult day. I would say "This Kid is driving me..." and the child would continue, in a very loud voice, "CRAZY" . this would be the way we would read the book. And it is amazing how much that silly line would make us laugh and our day would continue.
On one piticular day I was in the car with a 2 yr old Boy, ( I was his nanny at the time) we were on our way home, when we made the turn onto our street the child said "Holly, I don't want to go home." I responded with " well we need to go home." and continued with all the things we had to do when we got there, one of which was his sister was expected home from school shortly. I continued driving. then I made the turn into the drive way, and I hear him say " Holly, Your driving me CRAZY" I laughted for hours about that one, as did his parents, and everyone that I've told this story too.
Thanks for letting m share that with you
Holly Smith ~ Ontario, Canada
When stories are submitted, I will make every attempt to let the author know when their story will appear on this site. Thanks for your contributions.
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