Little Sponges

We've reached that time in our lives as parents that we now have to watch what we say. Our little sponge, aka M, picks up on everything. She's like Santa, always watching and listening, just waiting for mommy and daddy to say or do something bad so she can mark it on her list and repeat it later. Reminding us that we use foul language more than we realize or that we think it's funny and, in our own silly way, endearing to refer to each other as turd. Side note and fun fact, in Holland it actually is a term of endearment to call your children your little poo-poos or farts. Here in the American house of McGee, the parents often refer to one another as turds. It all started innocently enough after watching an episode of Arrested Development many years ago when we were still young and kid-free.

Needless to say, we haven't stopped calling each other turds and, well, it's become a bit of a problem. Not so much the turd calling but M is definitely picking up on some of the other things we call each other when we're joking around. Like jerk. She recently called her little friend a jerk while laughing and joking. I was horrified. M, having witnessed Ryan and I call each other a jerk while laughing and joking around with each other thought she was calling her the equivalent of silly. After the play date, I immediately called Ryan at work to call him a jerk turd and remind him we need to be more careful about the things we say and do in front of our little sponge.

Some things can't be helped. The kid is very observant. She takes her role as sponge very seriously. Not only does she soak up the things her parents say and do, she is quite the people watcher when we're out and about. You may recall the time she continuously pointed out the very little man to me in a store until I turned to see that it was in fact a midget, er..... little person. I can assure you that I have never pointed out a little person so vocally and loudly to anyone so she didn't get that from me (I'm looking at you Ryan). Just kidding. I don't think he has either. That was all M. So I know some things can't be helped. She's friendly and she loves people so anytime we're out she's watching everyone and saying hello and announcing her arrival to her fans and friends. Last night we all went to the grocery store, Ryan carried J in his ergo and M helped me put groceries in the cart. When we shop, M says hello to everyone we come within 5 feet of, like a greater at Wal-Mart or something. As we were getting milk I saw a lady coming toward us. She was close to 40 years old but she looked fantastic and had a great sense of style. She was rocking her skinny jeans and TOMS better than some teenagers. She was also very bald. Most likely from chemo, or at least I assume from Chemo. I could be totally wrong but I don't think I am. As I reached for the milk I held my breath. I knew my Chatty M was going to say hello to her as she passed us and I knew M being the little sponge that she is would most definitely see the lady's freshly shaved head and say something. She's also extremely curious about her world. The lady passed. M said hello and that was it. I let out my breath and put my milk in the cart. As I turned back to tell M it was time to journey on to the land of produce I saw M watching the lady who was now getting milk as well. M looked up at me and said "She doesn't have any hair". I'm usually horrible when put on the spot but somehow I managed to smile at my daughter and say "I know, isn't she beautiful?". M, "Yes, she is". The lady, having heard our conversation smiled and thanked us. We then asked her about her pretty earrings and M asked if it hurt, "Only a little" the lady told her.

I know we're going to screw up and call each other turds in front of her and she's going to go to school and call her friend a turd when they make a joke and she laughs. I hope she remembers how beautiful the lady was even though she didn't have any hair and I hope the next time she meets a girl with no hair she tells her how beautiful she is.