The best mirror

I don't think you can ever find a more accurate mirror than a toddler. Nothing will show you how you really come across better than a person with no penchant for deception and a straightforward sense of mimicry.

I never knew how my speech is cadenced until I heard Ainslie repeat things I say. I never even realized some of the things I say, and the way I say them. Apparently, in talking to her, I have a tendency to be redundant. I say this because she often says, "Yes, ok," or "Yes, uh-huh, " or "no, uh-uh." I must hesitate sometimes when deliberating her requests, because she's taken to answering with, "ummm..."

One funny anecdote. Last night I was getting her ready for bed, and every reply to me started with "ummm."

Me: Ainslie, do you want pink jammies or purple jammies?
A: Ummmm. Purple jammies.
Me: Which foot do you want to put in first?
A: Ummmmm. This foot. Right here.
Me: Ok, do you want to zip it up?
A: Ummmm, ok!
Me: Do all of your answers begin with Ummmm?
A: (deadpan) No.

The moral of this story is to be very, very careful. They watch. They listen. She attempts to do everything I do. I don't want to show her my impatience with running on Toddler Time, because I do not want her to immitate me being impatient with her. I do not want to be critical of her attempts at new things, because I do not want to see her hestitate to try. I do not want to criticize anyone's appearance (even my own) because I never want her to find fault with hers. Thank goodness she is also a quick mirror--so if I see myself making mistakes I can try to fix them quickly.