Conversations with a 3 year old - 4

Nidhi, watching a car drive away from our apartment block

3yo: Whose car is that mummy?

M: It's the people living downstairs, in No.1

3yo: What is their names mummy?

M: I don't know, I've never spoken to them

3yo: Why dint you speak to them mummy?

M: Because they're never around. They leave early for work, and come back late in the evening.

3yo (thinking about this): Are they men?

M: No, there's one man and one lady

3yo: But you are a lady and you don't work

M: I work at home, I look after you. I used to work before, when you weren't there.

3yo: Is it when I was in your tummy?

M: No, before that, when you were with God.

3yo: (after thinking for a bit): So, when I grow up and go outside all by myself, then will you go for work?

M: Hmm, I might

3yo (after thinking for a bit): So, the people in No.1, their child is not there

M: Yes, you're right, they don't have any children

The meaning of an apology

Nidhi is jumping on the floor yet again, inspite of being told several times that it disturbs the people in the flat downstairs

Mummy (with a lot of restraint): Don't do that.

3 yr old: I'm sorry, I wont do it next time.

M (beginning to explain again why she shouldn't): See if you jump, the aunty downstairs....

3yo: No, stop talking.

M: What?

3yo: Stop talking, because I said sorry.

Conversations with a 3 year old - 3

While waiting at an estate agent's office

3 yr old: Mummy, why do you have pimples?

Mummy: Because I'm getting old.

3yo: Why do you have white hair?

M: Because I'm getting old.

3yo: Why are you getting old?

M: Because people do, that's how it is.

3yo: Why, mummy?

M: Ask your teachers at school.

3yo (after a lot of thought and staring at mummy's head): When you are 34 yrs old will your hair be fully white?

M: &*^%$#@ (at this rate, probably YES)

After her 1st visit session at pre-school

Mummy: Did you enjoy school today?

3 yo: Yes I did

M: What did you like the most?

3 yo: Nobody took the toys I was playing with. All the children shared their toys with me. Everyone was very nice to me.

Answering the phone

Sometimes when Nidhi rushes to answer the phone at home, her dad would have picked up the parallel line in the other room. She listens in to a bit of the conversation, and then replaces the phone, and tells me who daddy was talking to and what they were saying. One day she answered the phone when her dad called home from work.

Mummy: Say hello

3yo: (replaces the receiver)

M: Who was it?

3yo: It was daddy and only daddy, and daddy was talking to himself.

Conversations with a 3 year old - 2

3 yr old: Mummy, what is "xyz"?

Mummy: Ask your daddy.

3yo: Why do you ask me to ask daddy?

M: Because daddy is smart.

(While 3 yo is digesting this information)

M: Who is smarter - mummy or daddy?

3 yo (very seriously): Me.