Yes, English!

Isaac and I had our first verbal exchange in English today! What a hoot, short as it was.

Isaac loves dogs. Every time he sees one or even just hears one, he perks up and chimes “Goggie!” (or oggie, or doggie, depending on his pronunciation skills that day). You see, thanks to what we annoyingly – I mean, affectionately – refer to as our welcoming committee (ie. the incessant yappy dogs next door who bark at such trivial things as the ants crawling by orthe leaves blowing in the wind overhead), Isaac learned early on what a dog is and what it sounds like. So there have been a few weeks of responding to Isaac with, “Yes, it’s a doggie! What does the doggie say? [pause… but no reply] Woof, woof! Can you say, ‘Woof’?” [blank or quizzical stare received from the child]

Well this morning, Isaac heard our welcoming committee outside his window, and the following exchange took place:

Isaac looked up at me and said: “Doggie!”
Me: “Yes, and what does the doggie say?”
Isaac: “Oof!”

Hooray, my child knows English, and thus confirms that he does understand what we are saying to him! No more excuses when we tell him no he cannot play with the garbage in the trash can, or eat rocks outside, or throw his food on the floor. Now to get him to mind…. That’s another topic.