|
 |
Life with Levi
Speaking Minion
By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson
Assistant Editor
Levi is bilingual. He can speak English a little, but his first
language seems to be Minion.
I know I’ve mentioned it in a previous column, but for those of you who
missed it, or who don’t remember, the minions I speak of are the little
yellow guys in the movie, Despicable Me. And they speak some form of
gibberish that I can’t fully understand.
This is the language my son speaks fluently. Or at least I figure that
must be the language that he’s speaking since he seems to understand
what the minions are saying more so than what I’m saying to him.
I can tell the boy “stop” or “no” and he looks at me like I’m speaking
gibberish and keeps doing what I want him to stop doing. Even
though he has no problem telling me no…
But here lately, despite the lack of response to the words “stop” and
“no” Levi has been starting to say words that sound more like English
and less like Minion. (I figure him not listening to me is just a
normal thing… After all, I am his mom. Why would he listen to me?)
For instance, when I ask him questions, he’s now starting to make
sounds that could be interpreted as words. And some of those words are
starting to be combined into phrases or short sentences. “Daddy go
work” and “I wike dat” are just a couple of things Levi will say on a
regular basis. And in the proper context.
“Potty” is now part of his vocabulary, even if he is only referring to
the toilet as he flushes it. No great strides on the potty-training
front yet. Just flushing… Over and over.
“Bubba” is frequently heard at our house. “Bubba” is not a person, it’s
Levi’s word for bubbles. And he says it every time we run water in the
kitchen sink. Because Grandma Von taught him that playing with the
bubbles when Mommy does dishes is fun.
Now every time there is water running in our kitchen, Levi is freaking
out, saying “Bubba” in the most pathetic, whiney voice possible because
he wants to play with the bubbles that aren’t there.
Thanks, Grandma…
He also likes to say the word “shirt”. This is one word that Mommy and
Daddy don’t encourage him to say in public though since it sounds more
like another word than the actual word “shirt”… If you use your
imagination, I’m sure you can probably guess what it sounds like. And
in case you still don’t get it, it’s “shirt” minus the “r”.
He’s finally mastered the art of the greeting. And he likes to use it
whenever possible, including every time he walks into the room. Even if
he runs in and out of the same room fifteen times in five minutes.
Every time he runs back into the room, it’s “Hi” (and I do mean every
time).
His favorite word is still “Daddy” though. He will jabber on and on
about Daddy, even when he’s talking about me. He’s using “Mommy” more
and more all the time, but “Daddy” is still number one. As I’m typing,
he’s back in his room (where he’s supposed to be napping), jumping up
and down in his crib, saying, “Dad-dee! Dad-dee! Dad-dee!” Not sure
why. Guess he just really loves his Dad-dee.
Either that or he knows that Daddy is a sucker and will go rescue him
from his “baby cage” before Mommy will.
With that said, it’s time for Mommy to go tell Levi “no” again. He’s
jumping in his crib so hard I can feel it in the kitchen.
Maybe if I figure out the Minion word for “no” or “stop” he’ll start to
listen to me.
Yeah, I know… Keep dreaming. If I ever figure out how to get my kid to
listen to me, I’m writing a book! Though I am starting to see the
beauty in bribery.
But I’ll save that for another column.
|
|
|
|
