Politeness

With the “terrible two’s” officially just around the corner (Araella’s b-day is June 8th), we feel that just maybe we have it licked. Famous last words? Check it out:

“Yeah peess” [i.e. yes please] is a frequent answer to questions and requests are typically concluded with either a verbal “peess” or vigorous chest rubbing which is the corrosponding ASL sign (American Sign Language).

Tanku [i.e. thank you] or the ASL sign that looks similar to blowing a kiss is bestowed un-asked-for in most cases.

Araella always closes doors behind her, including the sliding screen to keep mosquito’s out of the house. Occasional the door-closing becomes excessive and we have discovered her locked in her playroom or the bathroom since ‘door-opening’ is a yet unlearned skill.

“Amen?” is a frequent question at the beginning of meal times as she reaches for both our hands. She’ll squint her eyes shut and bow her head till her nose is nearly in her food and wait for the prayer that ends with “amen”.

One morning after exercising, Araella picked up my shoes as I took them off and carefully placed them on the shoe-rack in the living room; returning to me she inquired “all done?”

Hot season is in full throttle and one steamy afternoon as Tara and I lazed in the bedroom I asked Araella to turn on the a/c which she did. Then we asked her to go shut the door, which she also did. Then she came over to the bed and anxiously asked “all better?”

Araella has finally learned to spit unwanted food onto her plate or throw unwanted items onto the floor. Her habits have become a bit extreme since every little bit and speck must now be brought to us for inspection before determining what to do with it. However, having now identified the trash can and it’s appropriate use, one of her favorite activities is to throw things away – a task we are happy to relenquish when it comes to the disposal of smelly diapers.

Veggies of all types are definitely her favorite food along with breads and cheeze. She’s not a meat person nor a desert person, (with the exception of cholocate which is consumed in all its forms). Juice is copeously consumed, however she scorns soda and any other sweet drinks. And it shouldn’t surprise anyone, but last week she woke up one morning and announced “I need coffee!”

So while the two’s are just about here, it’s with renewed hope that, although not very alliterative, they will be the “well-mannered two’s”.