She’s yellow and he’s a bit sweet
All of a sudden.
All of a sudden, like in the blink of an eye, my little babies have become a little boy and girl.
All of a sudden, I’m having real conversations – real give and take – with Swee’Pea and TheMonk.
All of a sudden, I am reminding myself that my kids can do and say so much more than I think they should be doing right now.
How is that possible?
Yet, tonight at dinner, as we sat around the dinner table and laughed, made silly faces, and laughed some more, the conversation turned a bit more serious as I mentioned to Mommy that I overheard Swee’Pea tell TheMonk this morning, “Remember when you were lost at the zoo and Daddy had to go find you?”
This began an earnest attempt to educate Swee’Pea and TheMonk about what to do if they are lost (We told them to go to the cash register – the place where they take the money.). We also began quizzing them on names.
“What’s Mommy’s name?” we ask.
“A*****!” says TheMonk.
“What’s Mommy and Daddy’s name, Swee’Pea?” Mommy asks.
“A***** and Matthew.”
(This is incredible to me. They almost never hear us being called by our first names and we have only told them a handful of times what our names are, but they knew it.)
We then go on to ask them their last name which they both know, but are a bit uncertain to say until we reaffirm that indeed, that is their last name.
Finally, we ask them to tell us their full name. This is where the silly faces and ensuing laughs resumes.
“I’m Banana!” (Swee’Pea’s name starts with a “B” so this is an appropriate, yet silly, word to choose.)
Oh? And I suppose Monk’s name is “Jelly?” I ask with a smile?
TheMonk likes this and laughs out loud. Soon they are calling each other Banana and Jelly. This is funny to three year olds – and 37 year olds too. We all have a good laugh.
But I suppose it might not be such a good idea when we hear over the loudspeaker at the local supermarket, “Will the parent of Banana and Jelly, please come to register 5 to pick up your children.”
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Very good training. But what was TheMonk’s reaction at being reminded about that scary experience?
Comment by Grandmother — October 13, 2008 @ 12:38 am
I just checked with The Champ and he know both his parents names. Never thought about it before.
Comment by above average joe — October 13, 2008 @ 7:40 am
Well, I’m sure that you and Andrea will know it’s your children if that happens…:)
Comment by Equipoise — October 13, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
I’m so glad we made such an impression on your children.
Ane does know our names (and her last name), but Tad barely knows his own. We usually keep him strapped down in a stroller for that reason alone.
Comment by Deanna — October 13, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
Banana and Jelly…they are funny kids. The cash register thing is good, I like it. We have always said, find a mommy with kids. Which in all honesty, might not be the best thing.
I always worried about Nata, because she used to leave out letters. Important letters, ones in her name. So I’ve always wondered if they’d even be able to understand her. Now it’s better. But she still says Nata, which some people don’t get and then when they ask her again, she says Natalie Olivia LastName so fast that it gloms together and makes no sense.
I will say though, if lost and asking for help, I bet they’d remember their real names.
Comment by Issa — October 13, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Funny you should mention the name thing. Just this evening over dinner, Pistol said “You are my father, your name is—insert firstname” We were shocked that she said it and can’t even remember where she’d heard it being said. I usually call him Babe, which she’s used on occasion, or if I do call him by his name it’s the shortened version of it. She used his proper name!
Now you’ve got me thinking we need to work on the whole name thing, especially the last name!
Hugs & Blessings!
Comment by MamaChanga — October 13, 2008 @ 10:49 pm
Going to the cash register is a good idea, I’m going to have to incorperate that into our plans of action.
Comment by Dan — October 14, 2008 @ 1:54 am
I am sure parents have worse nicknames for their kids than Banana and Jelly.
Comment by DC Urban Dad — October 14, 2008 @ 4:16 am
My little sisters are twins. When they were 3 everyone called them Bitsy and LaLa, so that was what they would say when asked for their names.
When I would take my 3 kids out to a public event as youngsters we would take a photo of them to be able to show to security. And they had to wear matching shirts. It turned out to be very helpful.
Comment by Debs3 — October 14, 2008 @ 8:29 am
Ah, they grow up so fast, don’t they. But not fast enough to take out the garbage or mow the lawn. No. That never comes fast enough. And when it does, it’s gone in an instant and then they’ve got proms and dates and don’t have time for that, daddy. Sheesh. Kids.
Comment by L.A. Daddy — October 14, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
On a related note we’re still here in our new apartment emptying boxes after our move this summer. Over the weekend we found your wedding program in a box of momentos!!
Comment by Sarah — October 14, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
i may have said this before, but when i first ‘met’ you i pored over your 6-7 months archives (admittedly looking for your solution to sleep for twins…haha, pretty fun now, now that i know there is none). where your two were at seemed so distant, the way they were portrayed in your posts seemed light years away. i know better now, know the conversations will be here sooner than i ever thought. i have been reading but not commenting, but just wanted you to know…i love those two. they crack me up daily, make me smile and think how much fun we will have in those soon to come days.
you are such an awesome dad.
Comment by mamie — October 15, 2008 @ 6:54 am
I forgot where I saw this but this is something I am getting for my 4 year old daughter. There is a company that makes temporary tattoos that have the kids name, mom & dads name, cell # (or you could put other important stuff on them). So you teach your child that if they ever get separated from you, go to the cashier or someone in uniform and show them the tattoo. The site is http://www.safetytat.com
Comment by Adolfo — October 22, 2008 @ 9:25 pm