On Friday, I picked my girl up early from school for some Mommy-daughter time. We don’t get to do these things quite so often anymore. We were long overdue.
Our hands wrapped around warm paper cups, we reconnected. We talked of the fireplace in the middle of the Starbucks, how crowded it was. We talked of her day at school and our plans for the weekend.
And then, her eyes lit up.
“Tomorrow is warthogs day!”
“Warthogs day?” It wasn’t until I repeated it that I knew what we were talking about.
“Warthogs day! The warthog comes out of his hole and if he sees my shadow we have six more weeks of winter. And if he doesn’t see your shadow, its spring and then summer!”
I smiled. I tried so hard to not laugh. I contemplated what to correct, what to let go.
I contemplate this kind of thing often. Normally, I let it go. And so, we still put our milk in the refridgerdator, eat psghetti for dinner, ring the ding bell at the front door, and celebrate warthog’s day on the second of February.
I know I should correct her. I know it’s my job to strengthen her vocabulary. Help her grow into a well-spoken young woman.
But yellow is no longer lellow. Potatoes are no longer potapoes. Balloons are no longer babloons.
These things resolve on their own. And each time I hear a word correctly pronounced that used to come out so perfectly mangled, my heart aches just a little.
So for the rest of the afternoon, we talked about that warthog. And, the next morning, we got up and watched him wake up on TV (woohoo early spring!).
Groundhog’s day might come every year. But warthogs day comes just once in a lifetime.
February 4, 2013 at 1:51 pm
{Melinda} Awww, yes. Embrace that mangled vocabulary. I remember when I used to tell my boy (who just turned 13 on Warthogs Day. Sniff), “Come on!” And he’d reply, “Okay, mommy, I’m come oning!”
Sweet times.
Mothering From Scratch recently posted..MOMtor Monday: constant contemplating
February 4, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Yes, they do resolve on their own and in good time. I wouldn’t correct it either … I watched a video I had on my old computer the other day of Matt, at 2, parading around the house around the 4th of July. In his little voice, he looked up at the camera and asked “You wanna mard {march}, mama?” My heart nearly broke.
Let yellow be lellow for as long as it can.
Thanks for linking up today, sweets!
michelle @ this little light recently posted..That’s Not Me, Or Is It? Never Stop Redefining Yourself
February 4, 2013 at 5:09 pm
My kids all said lellow here too! So adorable – and yes – once in a lifetime!
Ilene recently posted..This Ain’t My First Rodeo
February 5, 2013 at 8:27 am
Tricia, you really know how to tug at my heart. you are SO right. She’ll learn it in due time. She’ll learn it for herself. I just love this mother daughter moment
sarah @sundayspill recently posted..the sunday spill: the bear with flare
February 5, 2013 at 9:10 am
The great thing is, these moments won’t go away just because they get older. My 15-year-old read the word “academy” on a bumper sticker the other day at “ak-uh-DAY-mee.” We had a good laugh over it.
And with all my girls, those words they jumbled when they were young are teasing (good natured, of course) fodder for years and years.
Love the moment you had with your daughter, and the way you told it.
Eli@coachdaddy recently posted..5 For Friday: Things I Put Back At The Grocery Store. No, Seriously.
February 5, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Awwww. It really does only come once in a lifetime. I think it is perfectly wonderful to allow yourself to enjoy those moments sometimes, instead of correcting every little thing. It is a piece of her childhood that will always stay in your heart.
Tracie recently posted..Don’t Make Me Choose Between Cookies and Books