As we're riding the elevators up, he looks up at an elderly couple sharing the ride and says, "Are you old?"
A couple of weeks ago we were walking through the park, past an elderly lady sitting on a bench. C. beamed at her and asked loudly, "Bist du eine alte Oma?" (Are you an old granny?). Fortunately the lady smiled back and said that she was, but oh boy, that could have gone either way.
C. beamed at her and asked loudly, "Bist du eine alte Oma?" (Are you an old granny?)
But that's the highest compliment a kid can give you! That means they think you are the source of all comfort, hugs and warm laps, cookies and cocoa, bedtime stories and puppet shows! Bring C. on over here, I'll let her call me alte Oma anytime.
C. beamed at her and asked loudly, "Bist du eine alte Oma?" (Are you an old granny?)
I'm trying not to be a mom who shushes the kids. They tend to make some pretty obvious observations about people. But they're honest and society gives them a lot of leeway. I want them to understand and celebrate the fact that everyone is different without actually, you know, saying it aloud.
Dylan spent a LOT of last summer calling one of my neighbors Bubbe. And she does look enough like my mom that I can see where he was coming from. But it was still pretty mortifying.
(And saying "Oh, but my mom was only 24 when she had me, and she's very athletic and dyes her hair so it's not like he's calling you old!" while true, is not so much an option. Because, really, not helpful.)
That happened to my mom in the grocery store once and she did say "Wow, that kid must have a young grandma."
(delurking here, too; wow, this may become habit forming...)
Two days ago, whilst picking up my daughter up from preschool, 2 other little girls approached and asked if I was [daughter's] grandma or mom. When I answered that I was her mom, they responded as though I'd just settled a bet. I'm not even 40 yet. Sigh.
Hugs to thems that needs 'em. Stoopid Fridays.
We still talk about the time my littlest brother told my great-Aunt Ida, with great joy, that her arms "waggled underneath." Luckily, she was not only was not offended, she had him sit on her lap so he could waggle them himself.
That means they think you are the source of all comfort, hugs and warm laps, cookies and cocoa, bedtime stories and puppet shows!
Having read these words, I was struck with a sudden and violent yearning for all these things.
Solange, it is totally habit forming. In an awesome way.
Go great-Aunt Ida!