Every preschooler's mom knows how diifcult it is to bring the active, never tired and never hungry kid to the table for meal times and have them talk about something other than their Doras and mickeys! Last night husband dear was working till late so I used the opportunity to have some grown up conversation with my 3 year old. Now to get her out of the make beleive world of toys and characters, I served her food in the regular dinner plate which we grown ups use and yes they are breakable and sat down with my own plate, same plate and same food. I thought what the heck, I will risk a plate for a beautiful conversation! And boy did it work! "Wow mamma, my plate matches with yours" "Yeah, you are growing and see how far you have come" Now I did want to start this "how far" from the point when she didn't even know how to suck breast milk but I did let it go. "so much funt o grow up" "yeah mamma, when I grow up what else can I do?" "you tell me" and the list is ......
- I will be able to open the spools container
- I will be able to open the door and go out when I want
- I will be able to eat spicy food like you
- I will be able to drive a car
- I will be able to make tea for you (this one melted me to the core!!)
- I will be able to take a bath all by myself
- I will be able to sit in the car with no help( tying the seat belt on her booster seat)
Her eyes lit up at every "I will be able to" and I was thinking how restricted a child must feel asking for help for so many times a day. I am learning my way to give them some more credit for being reasonable and allowing more room to make her feel that she can do much already!
Oh Saumya, I love you.
