BROTHERS

 

Repeated Phrases

 

Every parent at times hears their child repeat words or phrases that are often used in the home. Sometimes hearing your two-year-old sternly roar “stop it!!” to a unknown child at the playground can cause you to shamefully realize that “please stop!!” might be a more helpful phrase for your child to hear on a regular basis… Knowing that so much of what our children say are things they are repeating means that sometimes we are humbled with shame, but sometimes we humbled with delight too. And then other times, the use of memory and repetition in a two-year-old is just plain old funny.

Example ~ We’ve taught Jake to respond by saying “Maybe next time, Mommy” when he has asked for something and been told that he may not have it. Well, he turned those words around on me the other day when I asked him for a bite of his banana. Hearing my request he paused, turning his compassionate face to mine he replied “Maybe next time, Mommy. Maybe next time I will give you a bite.” Fair enough.

Example ~ When Jake is struggling to pronounce a particular word, I have found it helpful for him to look closely at my lips while I say the word. So to prompt this, I’ll occasionally say to him while we’re talking “Look at my lips, Jake” and then repeat the word. Yesterday while driving home, I couldn’t figure out what Jake was asking me, and I was forced to ask him several times to repeat what he was saying. In a huff of frustration he figured he would try something else and blurted out “Look at my lips, Mommy!” before repeating his question. The cleverness and creativity of children never ceases to amaze me.