Doodaddy » language

Bad Liar

doodaddy — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:15:21 +0000

Fern came out of the bathroom this morning, tugging up her leggings. As usual, I hadn’t heard a flush, but I had more pressing concerns: “Did you wipe?” When Fern’s in a hurry, she forgets the niceties. “Yes!” she said. “So if I look in the toilet, I’ll see some toilet paper?” Sometimes that forgetting-to-flush thing comes in [...]

Blackalicious

doodaddy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:29:00 +0000

Fern got this cute book on our last vacation -- Pinkalicious -- about a girl who eats too many pink cupcakes and turns, well, pink. Except she couldn't leave it at that -- Blackalicious beckoned.

Down With Princesses: Eight More Things I Never Thought I’d Say

doodaddy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:46:17 +0000

“Did you know that fairy princesses grow up to be wicked witches?” (During a bath.) “I have to run into the bedroom for a minute. Keep talking so I’ll know you haven’t drowned.” “If you ever date someone who drives an Escalade, I’ll disown you.” “I’ll love you almost as much if you have an outie.” “Who told [...]

Buried in my own doo-doo

doodaddy — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:54:00 +0000

The affair of the flatulent leaf should have come as no great surprise. * * * One of my favorite tricks with kids is to use naughty language. (I learned this from a priest.) Not really naughty, of course — just goofy, poop-level naughty. To wit: if I catch you saying “But I do do my own taxes!” [...]

Sweet Dreams are Made of This

doodaddy — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Not the world’s best sleeper. This is a stupid thing to be worried about (as is most of what I worry about), but Boo’s never described a dream to me. Last night was especially dramatic: she woke up screamingly about an hour after bedtime. I asked if she’d had a bad dream, and she said "Yes," [...]

At Least It Wasn’t Tommy Thompson

doodaddy — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:54:19 +0000

Boo just said, very clearly, “My dolly’s uncle is Donna Shalala.” About 30 times. Yes, dear, we’ve discovered nonsense words.

Lying is Fun

doodaddy — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:19:00 +0000

Explaining stuff to Boo — ATM cards, the Minnesota State Fair’s stick-food fetish, careers in HVAC — in terms she can understand is immensely satisfying. Teaching, after all, isn’t just saying what you know, it’s saying what you know in a way that your audience will “get.” Today, I feel… On the other hand, sometimes it’s just [...]

My Three-Year Old Blushing Bride

doodaddy — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:03:00 +0000

Among the many milestones that Boo achieved while I was busy feeding the baby this month: she now tells me she has a boyfriend. Strictly speaking, it’s not my daughter in the relationship; she was being possessed by her imaginary friend Petey at the time. And since the boyfriend she named is also fictional, [...]

So Mommy drew a cat.

doodaddy — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:45:41 +0000

"Mommy, draw a cat." Working Mom drew a cat. And Boo responded: "Well, that looks more like an elephant than a cat. But if you want to call it a cat, that’s OK." See what a sweet girl we’re raising?

I Want to Know What Love Is

doodaddy — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:46:00 +0000

It struck me today that Boo says “I love you” all the time but has never asked me what love is. It’s a question I fear a heckuva lot more than the ones that seem to make most dads nervous (to wit: “Why is the sky blue?” and “Can I borrow the car?”). Of course, [...]