Ri has learnt a new expression 'Ana' which in Tamizh means 'No'. She has a grand time saying 'Ana' for everything even when she may be inclined to say 'Yes' to it.
Her 'Ana' is entirely compulsive. Sometimes she will say it many times over till her point comes through which I think is something like ' Leave me alone. I am not interested in anything you have to offer me right now". Other times ( which is rarer though), she will say it to satisfy her impulse and then sweetly oblige.
Shall we have lunch now? Ana
Would you like to drink some milk? Ana
Can we change your diaper please? Ana
Can you hug Amma? Ana
She says it more than fifty times a day and while RD and I find it adorable most times, it can be frustrating after a point. Especially when RD has started saying it in an attempt to be cute. Not.
Did do some online reading about it and it looks like children all over the world go through this 'No' phase. It's amazing how independent, smart and self-assured little kids are. They know so much more than we give them credit for. I often wonder how Ri makes connections between visuals and words. How does she map them in her head? I've used the word 'No' with her but it's nowhere related to 'Ana'. How did she come up with her own word to indicate that she does not want to do something?
She sees pictures of Sonia and JJ on magazine covers and affectionately refers to them as 'Patti' (grandma). When Pranab, Manmohan and Karuna are on the News, she calls them 'Thatha' (grandpa). Middle-aged people are 'Mamas' (Uncle)and younger people are 'Annas' (Elder brother)and 'Akkas' (Elder Sister). I wonder how she knows how to differentiate between people based on their age.
RD and I often wonder what she thinks about, what she dreams about and what makes her smile in her sleep.
Would we trade these emotions and thoughts for anything else in the world?
'Ana'.
Her 'Ana' is entirely compulsive. Sometimes she will say it many times over till her point comes through which I think is something like ' Leave me alone. I am not interested in anything you have to offer me right now". Other times ( which is rarer though), she will say it to satisfy her impulse and then sweetly oblige.
Shall we have lunch now? Ana
Would you like to drink some milk? Ana
Can we change your diaper please? Ana
Can you hug Amma? Ana
She says it more than fifty times a day and while RD and I find it adorable most times, it can be frustrating after a point. Especially when RD has started saying it in an attempt to be cute. Not.
Did do some online reading about it and it looks like children all over the world go through this 'No' phase. It's amazing how independent, smart and self-assured little kids are. They know so much more than we give them credit for. I often wonder how Ri makes connections between visuals and words. How does she map them in her head? I've used the word 'No' with her but it's nowhere related to 'Ana'. How did she come up with her own word to indicate that she does not want to do something?
She sees pictures of Sonia and JJ on magazine covers and affectionately refers to them as 'Patti' (grandma). When Pranab, Manmohan and Karuna are on the News, she calls them 'Thatha' (grandpa). Middle-aged people are 'Mamas' (Uncle)and younger people are 'Annas' (Elder brother)and 'Akkas' (Elder Sister). I wonder how she knows how to differentiate between people based on their age.
RD and I often wonder what she thinks about, what she dreams about and what makes her smile in her sleep.
Would we trade these emotions and thoughts for anything else in the world?
'Ana'.
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