FAMILY – Espen speaks
I'd like to start off by saying that
the following statements about Espen are true.
I remember the golden days. Just
babble. “Babblebabblebabblebabblebabble. Babblebabble.
Babblebabblebabblebabbleba, babblebabblebabblebabble.
Babblebabblebabblebabblebabblerabblebabblelabblebabble?... Babble!”
But now he only babbles 50% of the
time. That might sound like a lot, but the remaining 50% is more
interesting.
One of his first words was “Yes.” I
think he was inspired by my consistently being so accommodating with
my wife. Of course, the typical word is no, but he's much more
open than that. Somehow, even before he was a year old, he could
identify the sound of a question and respond – always in the
affirmative.
He appeared willing.
“Do you want some fruit?” “Yes.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.”
“Okay, open your mouth.” “Yes.” “Espen, you didn't open
your mouth.” “Yes.” “Are you crazy?” “Yes.” “What do
you want to eat?” “Yes.” “Do you want to eat your bib?”
“Yes.” “Can you say no?” “Yes.”
okaaaayyyyy...
“Yes.”
But at least if you knew how to phrase
your questions, he would agree to anything.
And he's great at ice-breakers. Most
kids get nervous around crowds. If he is feeling a little gun shy, he
just points to his feet and says: “Shoes.” That note will kick
off any party.
We try to keep the phone away from him.
For one thing, I'm concerned about radiation, etc. Also, we don't
want him calling random people, which he has done. The rare times we
used to let him answer the phone, he would just laugh and breathe
heavily like a stalker. And we also have a variety of phones that he
is allowed to use – cheap toy phone, better toy phone, real phone
that no longer has a plan, TV remote that he treats like a phone, and
finally the real, working phone that he somehow gets his hands on
because we are bad parents.
The last time he got the real phone:
“Hello? Hi, Kory! Babblebabblebabblebabblebabble. Hahahaha!
Babblebabblebabblebabblebabble? Hahaha. Bye, Kory.” And he hung up.
I hadn't spoken to Kory in two weeks.
Last night he was being difficult, and
I asked him: “Are you crazy, or are you young?” His response:
“Young.”
That's better than yes.
