(You can read the first Things Amy Says here.)
Is it just me or do toddlers grow exponentially the moment they hit 2 years old?
I feel that Amy has been going through so much growth since her 2nd birthday – not just physically, but also in terms of vocabulary and perception.
Situation #1
She is so chatty right now, and loves to imitate everything we say (good thing we don’t habitually swear!). In fact, she can now scold herself before I do, reciting every single word that I would have used!
Amy threw her crayons on the floor and one broke. Just as I opened my mouth, she said:
“Amy! Cannot throw! Crayon broke adi. Naughty girl! No more crayon!”
Situation #2
She can also ‘read’ (from memory, not like actual reading yet) her favourite books from cover to cover, both the English ones as well as Mandarin ones. Sure, some of the words are skipped and some are coated with her toddlerese, but it’s about 75% accurate!
Situation #3
A few mornings ago, I had come back from news duties and went to bed at about 3am. She decided to wake up at 5am, and started rolling around the bed, disturbing me nonstop. Finally, at 7am, my little patience vanished and I sat upright, glared at her and hissed, “Amy! Stop it!”
She looked up at me and laughed. That fueled my anger even more. I pushed her away from my side of the bed and told her, “You go sleep the other side. Mama doesn’t want to sleep with you.”
Then I lay back down in a huff and puff, and tried to go back to sleep. To my (angry) astonishment, she bounced up and flew down the bed, opened my room door, went out and slammed it shut. She then stormed downstairs and loudly proclaimed to my in-laws:
“Amy bu yao sui jiao!* Amy bu yao sui jiao! Amy bu yao sui jiao with mama!”
* Amy don’t want to sleep, in Mandarin
Situation #4
She is very good in asking for her favourite food nowadays. Yesterday afternoon, I took her on a drive with me to McDonald’s to grab myself some food. The moment she saw the golden ‘M’ arch, she said:
“Old McDonald! I wan fwen fwai!”
OK fine. I got my value meal, and shared my fries with her. I also got my Oreo McFlurry which I kept hidden from her. The moment we reached home, I tried to smuggle it into the freezer, but SHE CAUGHT ME. She took one look at the McFlurry cup, and went:
“I wan ice cweam! I wan ice cweam!”
I stared at her. HOW DID SHE KNOW THAT IT WAS ICE CREAM INSIDE? She couldn’t have seen inside the cup from where she was!
Situation #5
She’s a demanding little girl. Perhaps after 2 years of us giving her instructions, she has decided it is now her turn.
I can’t even pee or poo in peace right now, because she would march up to the toilet door and demand from the other side of the door:
“Mama come out. Mama come out now!”
She would repeat that until I come out.
I can’t have my breakfast in peace either. I was getting ready to eat a few mornings ago, and she asked to watch videos on the iPad. So I got her iPad out and settled it all nicely on the couch for her. As I was about to return to my breakfast, she held on to my finger, and barked:
“Mama watch iPad with Amy.”
I was like, uh, mama needs to eat breakfast. You watch yourself OK?
“No. Mama watch iPad.”
Um, mama’s just going to sit there OK?
“No. Mama sit here watch iPad. Mama sit here!”
She even patted the chair to emphasize her order, just like how we do it haha.
It’s really cute to see her re-enacting what we adults do all the time. Sometimes it’s infuriating, but most of the times it’s more than amusing. It also serves as a reminder to be careful with what we say and do! Toddlers soak up everything like a sponge!
Love,
Nat