About a decade ago, Bill Cosby hosted a show called “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” On it, he would ask young children questions, to which they would offer cute and/or silly responses.
I was in college when the show aired, and thus I never got the attraction to children ... well, talking.
After spending some time with Penny and Rigby the past couple weeks, I am no longer skeptical about the power of a child’s word.
• Even when their words prove humorous, children have way more insight than they might be given credit for. Penny’s said that my belly is big, that her mother’s real name is “Tie Dye” because of her preferred choice of clothing and that Rigby’s recent haircut (his first) made him a “handsome dude.”
• Brevity also proves to be wit. While out dining on some soup recently, Penny let out a simple “mmm, it’s good” that, while sending Mommy and me into hysterics, said all that needed to be said.
And Rigby, like his father, practices reticence with his words. While cuddling with me one recent morning, his simple declaration of “I’m Rigby” perfectly wrapped up the sentiment. As for a departing uncle with whom he wanted more quality time one recent night, Rigby’s grimace and accompanying whimper proved sufficient to make his point, and cuddling ensued.
• Children don’t always have every answer, but their attempted responses to questions prove they’re trying. I asked Penny one day where I’d get the money to pay for a toy she saw on a commercial, and her response of “the lady” indicated that she connected a restaurant waitress (who takes the money) with giving us some cash in return. Similarly, “the lady” is the person who brings us food, water and anything else we need, regardless of where we might be. Oh, and every meal these days is “dinner.”
• To say a child’s mind is like a sponge is correct in a sense, but it’s not an entirely accurate simile because sponges often let go of some of the moisture they absorb. It only takes one viewing of a “Backyardigans” monster episode for her to begin calling for a “monster dance party” every half hour. Once the sun sets, she will tell anyone who will listen that it’s her bedtime because she goes to sleep when it’s dark, like Mommy said.
And once you tell her that we can do something, it’s a bond that’s tighter than the craziest Krazy Glue. We told her two days prior to our recent trip to select pumpkins at a local farm that we were going, and the following 48 hours were spent by her declaring “pumpkin pickin’ ” to everybody within earshot. She spent that entire day leading up to our visit expressing her desire to be picking pumpkins at that precise moment, and she proceeded to spend 90 minutes picking every single pumpkin they had (she also selected gourds for Mommy and Daddy; Rigby got to choose his own).
• Depending on the mood, Rigby is Penny’s brother, baby, baby doll or dude (she’s quick to correct claims that he’s our son). She has an uncanny knack for reading his mind, as she always knows when Rigby wants to eat, play in his bouncy seat, play in the crib with her, go outside or go bye-bye; coincidentally, they always want the same thing.
• Never, ever doubt your child’s intelligence. I came home from work one recent afternoon to briefly watch the kids while Mommy had an appointment to keep. While holding both of them, Penny asked me to “never go back to work again.”
Scooping my liquefied heart off of the carpet, I responded that work paid me to be there, and if I didn’t go we couldn’t buy the things we required in the house.
“Get Penny new shoes,” she replied. “Get Penny new prizes.”
“Yep,” I said, “and food, and clothes, and everything else we need.”
She paused. She grinned. She kissed me. She hugged me.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she said. “I love you.”
Kids say the most beautiful things.
Contact Paul Laneat 693-1000, ext. 116,or paul.lane@gnnewspaper.com.
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