The Air is Turning Blue Part Deux….

Everyone knows that small people have a tendency to repeat and expand on things they hear.  Not long ago we gained first-hand experience when Mister D picked up on one of Daddy’s rants, and spent many months dealing with colorful expletives that were randomly spouted out at day care.  A proud moment for all of us.  Naturally his darling sister also caught the momentum and in turn joined in her big brother - parroting some of the more fabulous words.  Eventually, we managed to get everyone to stop swearing (Daddy included) and the peasants rejoiced in our little kingdom.

That is until last week.  I started to notice the recurrence of the phrase “Don’t say that word” from my darling princess.   Normally, in the past, this meant ‘that word’ was going to be uttered, and soon.  However we didn’t hear anything and nothing was reported, so I stupidly assumed that it was just ‘one of those things.’  Boy was I wrong.

Yesterday I went to pick up the munchkins.  Stopping in D’s room first, he happily showed me his latest construction paper masterpiece, pointed out his cubby and proudly grabbed his new Superman backpack to carry to the car.  As we headed down the hall to gather up madam, the director caught my attention and asked me to ‘come here’.  (Having some experience I knew this was not a good sign.).  My first thought is – dear god – what has he done this time?  But noooooo.  For once my little guy was the “good” child. 

“Do you have any suggestions as to what we should do with A?”  stated the director.  “We aren’t sure what to do anymore?” 

Come to find out my little angel apparently was choking on her halo and tripping on her wings. 

“We started a log – we are trying to see if there is a common factor”

(Holy crap – I thought….they started a log!)  I asked for the list and read through it carefully.

You name it – it was on that list.  Foul language, throwing stuff, pinching, throwing food, refusing to sit in time out.  My heart sank.

“Ok, when did this start?  I know she hasn’t been doing it at home and you said she had stopped.”

“It started last Thursday/Friday.”
“What triggered it?”

Blank stare. 

“She isn’t doing this at home, only here, so something must have started it.  What happened that might have caused it?”

More blank stare….I decided to try another tactic.

“Was she doing it before?” 
“No – She had stopped.  We don’t know why she started again.”

“What do you do when that happens – I know she doesn’t like to sit in time out.”   (In truth it is a fight to get her in time out.  She will sit then just gets up and goes along as if nothing happened….you literally have to stand there with her to keep her in the chair.)

“Well she won’t stay in time out so we hold her in our lap.”

*ding ding ding*

I went through the list again.

“Ok, some of these phrases she is saying….she never heard that from us.  We also make sure they aren’t hearing stuff on the radio/television so it has to have been something she heard here.”

“Oh no, we don’t say those things.”

I stared at her, “No, I know you don’t, but I know for a fact that I was in here a while back and she was in a room with older kids.  One of the kids picked her up, carried her over to another kid and told her to say  “*&*&” – and she did.   I also know the teacher was standing right there and ignored it.   Now, let’s try again….has she been around the older kids?”

“Well there are kids in her class that are now starting to repeat what she says.”

I sighed….”Ok, I will talk to her.  You keep your log and if you come up with something I am more than happy to work with you.”  I also pointed out that she was probably doing it for attention, but refrained from stating the obvious about their sitting her on their laps.  I then headed out to gather my new problem child.

“Did you say bad words today?” I asked her as I buckled her in the van.

“Yesh”

“Are you supposed to say bad words?” I asked

“Yesh”

“No, No – do NOT say bad words – it makes Mommy and Daddy sad.”

“Yesh”

As I climbed into the van I heard a tiny voice from the back whisper “Don’t say that word”.

Yep – we are totally fucked…..