Two-Line Vocabulary
Posted by aaronjen | Filed under Family
If you’ve ever watched the show “Whose Line is it Anyway?”, you may be familiar with one of the games they play called Two-Line Vocabulary. There are three actors and they are given a scene, but two of the characters have to act out the scene each being given only two lines they are allowed to say, while the third actor is allowed to say anything. It’s amazing how many ways the actors can inject different meanings in to the two lines they are given, but also how every time they play this game, the actor that can say whatever they want to ultimately acts it frustrated.
Well, it occurred to me the other day that Caleb has been playing an ongoing game of Two-Line Vocabulary for months now. The two lines he’s working with: “Look see” and “Is that right?”. The thing is, like the character that can say whatever they want, I often find myself frustrated with Caleb after the 50th time he’s said “Look see” or “Is that right?” as it gets to a stage when I feel like our conversation is going nowhere. I constantly need reminding that he’s still learning, and these are opportunities for me to expand his vocabulary as I offer different responses.
Caleb, at 3 1/2 is very strong-willed, (a child that refused to be weaned until 2 1/2, and who although quite capable of using the toilet, is still in nappies), and keeps us constantly on our toes (he’s got ‘tude). But we love him to bits! He’s been a bit sick the past couple days, and he’s just so snuggly and sweet. In fact, just before I was colouring in for him (being forced), yet every time I finished a task for him and asked him how it looked, his response, “That’s beautiful!”. How could you not adore that (especially since I wasn’t even staying in the lines)?! - JRR
Tags: Breastfeeding, humor, parenting, Toilet Training, Two Line Vocabulary, Weaning, Whose Line is it Anyway
Master Smarty-Pants
Posted by aaronjen | Filed under Family
Our almost six year old son, Noah (pictured left on his first day of school), has become quite the smarty-pants of late in two recent episodes of “Dad, pull your head in”. The first episode occurred a week or so ago when I stepped outside the front door briefly to put something outside. I heard Noah’s voice travelling through the door only seconds after stepping out…”Dad! Were you born in a tent?!”. The second episode happened yesterday, and was significantly more subtle than the first. We were washing our hands in a public restroom, in basins next to each other. I finished before Noah and was drying my hands when Noah politely asked: “Dad, what do you say to someone if you splash water in their eyes?” Assuming Noah was relaying a story from school, I told him “well, splashing water in someone’s eyes isn’t very nice, so I think you would say sorry to them, wouldn’t you?” Noah seemed to like this answer, then said, not quite as politely: “Dad…you splashed water in my eyes and didn’t say sorry.”
Jen and I are in for real trouble with our children if they end up like us - I remember being slow at getting ready for bed and being asked “Aaron, what are you doing?!” and replying, very cheekily “getting my act together.”
It would seem the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree… - ALR
