Vocab

Jack just told me that he was 'enthused' to go to pre-school.

Is that a normal 3 year-old word or do I have Charles to blame?

I spy....

This morning at breakfast.

JACK: I spy something that starts with an F.
ERIN: Hmm. Is it a fork?
JACK: No.
ERIN: Is it the fridge?
JACK: No.
ERIN: Jack, I give up. What is it?
JACK (with a big smile): It is FEO!

Oh, the joys of having a brother with a hard 'th' name.

Brotherly Love

Conversation between Charles and Jack this morning:

‘Dad, look at my shopping’. Charles looked and saw that Jack had filled up his shopping cart (trolley in the UK) with his toys.

‘I got an axe, and I got a sword’, Jack said.

‘Wow, this looks like a pretty violent shopping trip’, Charles remarked.

Jack ignored this comment and proceeded on. ‘And I got a ball and a bunny for Theo’.

Just as Charles was ready to praise Jack for this kindness, Jack added, ‘I really think of my brother, don’t I?’ And Charles thought, yes, but I hope it’s just in regards to the second set of things in your cart, and not the first ones too.

Jack the Cop

So we were driving home from the store last night and a VERY minor stop light turned yellow just as we were approaching. And yes, I sped up and went through (safely, I might add). But this did not escape the attention of my three-year-old who quickly from the back seat reprimanded me. The conversation went like this:

Jack: Mom, that was a yellow light.
Erin: Yes, Jack. You are right. I shouldn't have gone through. I should have stopped.
Jack: No, you shouldn't have. That was not the right thing to do.
Erin: Yes, Jack. You are right.
Jack: They wouldn't be very happy with you.
Erin: Who wouldn't be very happy with me?
Jack: The people who made that rule.

Boys are from Mars and Girls are from Venus

Today we were getting ready to go to the park with one of Jack's good friends, Grace. Grace is a little bit older than Jack and has gotten to the stage where she now acts like a little girl. Jack has not quite learned how to play with girls. So today I decided that I would try to help Jack get along with Grace better by giving him some pointers on how to treat girls. Our conversation went something like this:

Erin: Jack, so God has made Grace a girl so there are certain things that you like that she doesn't.
Jack: Like what?
Erin: Well, she doesn't like to be tackled or wrestled or have someone jump and wave their hands in her face.
Jack: You like those things Mommy.
Erin: Well, yes sometimes I do. But the point is that Grace doesn't like these things, she doesn't do them to you, and it would be kindest of you if you didn't do them to her.
Jack (long pause, you can tell he is really thinking): How did Grace learn not to jump and wave her hands in people's faces?

And there you have it, the difference between girls and boys. Some things don't have to be taught or learned.