Kidspeak

The latest is that Tru has turned the corner and he’s much better now. I know because he’s talking again, plus he just cleaned out 2 bowls of porridge for lunch after surviving on a liquid diet for 4 days. That’s always a good sign.

Unfortunately, Kirsten caught it too so she’s a little bummed.

But it’s like she seems to know that her brother has just gone through the same thing and is the only one who understands what it’s like. So she asks for him whenever it hurts.

“I want kor kor,” she’d say with tears in her eyes.

Moments like these, I’m glad they’re close because he’ll think for a moment, then put down his toys and go “ok ok, but you cannot take my cars.”

This morning, they were playing under the covers and I overheard Tru praying for his sister.

Tru: Dear Jesus, please kill mei mei…

Me: Um, sweetie? I think you mean heal mei mei.

Tru: I ask Jesus to kill mei mei so she won’t be in pain anymore.

Me: I’m pretty sure you mean heal.

Tru: No, not heal. KEEEEEL.

Me: Well, unless you mean that mei mei will not have any more pain *ever again*. But I don’t think that’s how Jesus works, baby. And you probably shouldn’t ever pray for Jesus to kill anyone, it’s not very nice. Let’s go with heal for now ok?

Tru: Ok. Dear Jesus, make mei mei better so she can eat food. Amen.

Me: Touché.

When you have more than one kid, you realize how minor differences can sometimes make all the difference in the world.

#1: Kirsten using tears as leverage – extremely effective

The kids are playing and Tru reaches out to snatch a toy out of his sister’s hands.

Kirsten: That’s mine!

Tru: I take. You let me play a while ok?

Kirsten: No. I need the toy, you give me?

Tru: You must share, mei mei.

Kirsten: I’m going to cry. (proceeds to opens her mouth)

Tru: (clasps one hand over he mouth while shoving the toy back with the other hand) Ok ok, I give it back.

#2: Truett using tears as leverage – not quite so effective

The kids are playing and Kirsten reaches out to snatch a toy out of her brother’s hands.

Tru: You cannot snatch!

Kirsten: It’s mine!

Tru: I was playing first, you give it back.

Kirsten: No.

Tru: I’m going to cry, ok.

Kirsten: Ok, you cry. I take tissue for you.

***

#1: Kirsten playing with toys

Kirsten: Duck duck, you close your eyes and sleep, I cover blankie for you.

#2: Truett playing with toys

Tru: Mommmmm, my train is broken.

Me: How did you manage to break it? It’s made of wood.

Tru: The train had an accident. I threw it on the floor.

***

#1: Kirsten on going to school

Kirsten: I like to go to school – I play toys, sing songs, eat rice and chicken. I feed myself very well!

#2: Truett on going to school

Truett: I got no school today right, mommy?

Me: Today’s Thursday, sweetheart, there is school today.

Truett: I think I’m not feeling well, I need to see the doctor.

We’ve been playing this shopping spree game with the kids recently to teach them about money and the art of negotiation. The kids get to pick a box of toys and we’re supposed to sell things to each other. To keep it real, we even use money from daddy’s wallet during our little game.

We’re hoping this exposure will bring out their inner business acumen and they’ll be able to start a lemonade stand to earn some money by the time they turn 5. We’ll supply the lemonade and they’ll do the selling.

Truett is the shop owner this time and we take turns to buy toys from him. 

Me: I’d like to buy this red ball. How much is it?

Tru: Um, 48 dollars.

Me: WHAT? For a ball? It’s too expensive. I’ll give you 20 dollars and 30 cents.

Tru: I tell you what, 8 dollars.

Me: I’m not sure you know how negotiation works. Just so you know, I’m not giving you money to start a lemonade stand anytime soon.

Tru: Ok ok fine. $4.50.

Me: Sure, $4.50. But I’m sending you to business school for some training first.

***

Then it’s Kirsten’s turn to be the shop owner

Kirsten: (holds up a truck) This is 5 dollars, you want to buy?

Me: Um, no. I don’t like the truck, do you have anything else?

Kirsten: You must buy.

Me: I don’t need a truck, sell me a bear or something.

Kirsten: No bear. This is my bear bear, you buy the truck ok.

Me: Nope. Not buying a truck.

Kirsten: (grabs my credit card) See I got your card, you must buy.

Me: Oi, that’s technically stealing and I’ll be sending you to civics and moral education school.

Tru: Kirsten, you want to chase me?

Kirsten: *shakes head* 

Tru: Ok then I chase you.

Kirsten: No. I don’t like to chase.

Tru: This car is very special, it can go so fast.

Kirsten: Don’t go so fast ok, later you will fall down.

Tru: No I won’t fall down. See, I will show you.

Tru proceeds to show off his speed by whizzing past her. 

Kirsten: I want kor kor to sit with me.

Tru: Cannot, there’s no space.

Kirsten: I WANT KOR KOR TO SIT WITH ME.

Tru: *audible sigh* Ok, I will sit with you.

They struggle to inch forward very slowly.

Tru: Mei mei, I think you need to get off. You are making my car very slow.

As the kids grow older, I’m increasingly convinced that having them so close together was the best thing we’ve done. Especially when they seem to have really hit it off as siblings.

I’m even starting to forget how tough things were during the first year after Kirsten was born. Those wonderful days when they used to scream for hours in perfect unison as I struggled to carry, feed and pat both babies at once. Fun times.

Then one day they grew up and became friends – friends who had fun together. They would snuggle in bed talking and laughing every morning. They figured out how to deal with each other’s quirks and foul moods. They learnt to play together, dance together, do somersaults together and get into trouble together.

Sometimes I just sit and listen to their conversations because watching them enjoy each other’s company is priceless. Also because it’s important to keep tabs on the harebrained schemes they come up with.

Kirsten: OUCH! Kor kor, you pushed me?

Tru: No, I didn’t push you. I’m trying to hug you.

Kirsten: You hug me?

Tru: Yes, because I love you so much! *pats her head*

***

After almost 2 hours of unsuccessfully putting them to bed, we left the room and held the door shut.

Kirsten: Can you open the door for me?

Tru: I can’t, it’s stuck.

Kirsten: Help, the door stuck it.

Tru: Ok I know, we use the sword to open.

Kirsten: The sword cannot open. We need the chair.

Tru: Oh, ok. Let’s snuggle, later daddy will open.

***

Kirsten is dozing off in the car and Tru is intent on keeping her awake.

Tru: MEI MEI WAKE UP!

Kirsten: *opens her eyes slightly* What?

Tru: MEI MEI WAKE UP!!!

Kirsten: *opens her eyes slightly* What?

Tru: MEI MEI WAKE UP WAKE UP!!!

Kirsten: *mumbles* I’m trying to sleep, don’t disturb me.