At John’s family Christmas last Sunday there was short conversation about how Ivy is of that amazing age where she soaks up information, retains it and then actual feeds it back at appropriate times.  My contribution to the discussion was that while it is amazing to watch her learn and grow,  all this intelligence and parroting has it’s drawbacks! Truly it’s not the information that is the trouble, I watch and wonder at that part of her growth with the best of the sappy-amazed-that-my-kid-is-clearly-the-smartest-kid-ever-parents. It’s the phrases of mine she has picked up that I take issue with.  I mean really if she’s going to copy things I say she could at least make me look like the nice, kind, patient mother that I am…

Most often heard? “Settle down Mom, settle down.”  This is also the one that makes friends and relatives laugh the hardest who hear it… it’s not that funny, trust me!

Yesterday when getting her sister a drink of water I heard: “I’m workin’ on it Clara, I’m workin’ on it.” Which is something I realized I say all the time after I heard Ivy say it to Clara. Unfortunately, I’m fairly certain it’s much cuter when Ivy says it since she’s lacking the whole harassed mother persona.

Also yesterday Ivy “Ya wanna-ed” me.   I have a bad habit of saying things like, “Hey, ya wanna come put away your toys?” “Ya wanna put away silverware?”  “Ya wanna let me comb your hair?” Why do I ask questions when I know the answer will be no? Why is my grammar so terrible?  It’s a bad habit, I’m workin’ on it. Ivy is helping me:  “Hey Mom! Ya wanna wipe my poop?”  Yup, new years resolution, I’m striking “ya wanna” from my vocabulary!

John and I are not immune to accidentally letting loose a bit of foul language in front of Ivy. So far we have escaped having to deal with the consequences of that except for, “DUMB IT!” Which I’m certain is her interpretation of  John yelling “Damn it!” (Definitely John’s fault.  I have other choice words) Since she’s not actually swearing, we are going with not making a big deal of it, letting it slide and trying not to laugh.

Then of course there is the line about needing to have patience. I think that phrase comes standard with the whole mother thing. Congratulations here’s your baby, let me check your car seat and don’t forget to take your  “have a little patience.” But tonight, tonight, Ivy humbled me with her patience. Waiting for John to get home (with dinner) I was getting grumpy (as was Clara, we like to eat on time, dumb it!)  I grumbled something about John being late within Ivy’s hearing. Ivy pipes up with: “You just need to have a little more patience Mom!  Here you can have some of mine.” she says as she hands me a pocket full of imaginary patience.

The moral of this story? Be careful what you say, or your three year old may tell you  – Ya wanna settle down!? I’m workin’ on it, dumb it! Just have a little patience!- and true or not, that’s not something a mother wants to hear!