Upon my re-entry to the land of the intellectually aware, I stopped at a language school downtown. I decided to join up, as my language ability has stalled recently, especially after the sudden cessation of looking for houses, meeting real estate agents that need to be communicated with about my personality, my needs and wants, and in general just chatted up. I hadn't talked to anyone in my second tongue for so long...I hadn't soaked up any new vocabulary or learned to properly conjugate an unfamiliar verb in a very long time. So once a week, (Fridays from two to four pm) Me and my daughter haul our cookies down to the center of town for a couple of hours of conversation, grammar practice and general brain stimulation. I always feel good after a rousing conversation in any language, even if I can't speak it!
Today we joined a good friend of our family by the tamagawa to celebrate her daughter's first birthday. The food was fantastic (my favorite being the pigs in a blanket), the company was engaging and the weather was perfect...it was good to see all of my gaijin friends enduring the various stages of toddlerhood, some with babes that have just started walking, and others with little ones starting to show the first signs of temper tantrums. Our family has progressed well beyond the temper tantrum phase and well into outright defiance.
Defiance....Nana says no almost constantly. Today I was trying to get her to hold my hand to walk to the other side of the street, and she looked directly at me and informed me that she couldn't hold my hand as she was "hugging her koala"...yes dear child, continue to "hug your koala" but hold my fucking hand, lest you get hit by a car. I left out the fucking. She agrees sometimes, but most of the time we have an argument which results in tears and flailing arms and legs. No matter what I want, she wants the opposite. At this moment, I am not really enjoying parenthood.
I know it will eventually fade and another fantastic stage of development will rear its head...
Happy Sunday.
キム・ヨナ選手の目と眉の間にキュン
3 years ago
4 comments:
Well, ummmmm the good news is fear of cars does set in and they get over that. The bad news is they learn more words and it just makes them more mouthy. Meg packed her suitcase to leave home yesterday. @_@
Well done on the language school thing. I have gone as far as sticking the notice to the fridge....
I`ll definitely be interested in hearing how the language school goes.
It was great to see you today. I`m so glad that the weather turned out so nicely
So funny to hear you discribe Nana's fits... I remember a time when miss "NICOLE" used to drive you crazy and you swore you would not have a child like that! :) Not that she is like her, but more that you are a bit like her mom and not putting your foot down until you are wore out from your arguement with her. I love you dear daughter! I know exaclty what you are going through and I KNOW you will get through this trying time of the "Terrible Twos" and you will be amazed at all she will learn in the next few years!
Found your blog by accident and now I don't even remember what route I took to get here :)
With regards to Nana and her method of choosing the opposite of what you say or want her to do:
Sometimes, try asking her to do what you don't want her to do!
Reverse-psychology :D
Kids tend to want to explore, and believe they should have the freedom to do *whatever* they want and *whenever* they want. So any rules imposed or things you want them to do, they immediately say 'no' or rebel in not doing it.
Obviously in this case (crossing the road holding hands), you should have forced your hand as you would have :)
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