Oh Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say!

I am currently living with a mockingbird. It's name is Abe. Abe has been a late bloomer when it comes to language, but lately he has been trying to talk more and more. Much of his talking comes in the form of repeating something. It's very funny, and very convicting.

He not only repeats our words, but he does it in the exact tone in which it was delivered. So, if you say it in a sweet and tender voice, Abe repeats it in a sweet and tender voice. However, if you say it in a snappy irritated voice, well you get the picture. It has been a good reminder to me that I need to be careful what I say AND how I say it.

It's been a delight to hear him and we've gotten a kick out of seeing him begin to assemble words into phrases. Abe has had countless reprimands for hitting, pinching, or biting. That seems to be something he struggles with more than our other toddlers tended to. I walked past he and Lizzy the other day and apparently she had playfully swatted him over something. He got very close to her face, shook his finger, and in a firm, controlled voice, he said "No, no Lizzy! No, no hit Abe!" We both giggled and he received great praise for using his words instead of his teeth in response.

That boy is truly a challenge, but the rewards are just as true!