My niece is two and a half, but she seems a little confused when we tell her that. I'm pretty sure she assumes she's at least 30, or possibly older based on recent events. The other day the following exchange occurred between her and my father...
Bitty: "Oh-Oh, what are you DOING?"
Dad: "I'm just getting this gadget for the TV."
Bitty: "What does GADGET mean?"
Dad: "Well...it's like a device, that, um..."
Bitty: "Oooooh (with a knowing nod of her head)...a DEVICE..."
A couple of weeks ago my sister was woken by Bitty insistently tugging at her arm. When Sara roused herself enough to ask her what was going on, Bitty solemnly informed her that she was Jake's daddy. Jake, it should be noted, is my sister's husband and is, in fact, Bitty's daddy. Sara pointed this out to Bitty, but she was not to be swayed. "No. I am Jake's daddy. You can call me Mike, and I am fifty and a half years old."
No one is sure why this specific name and age were selected, but it's not the first time she has surprised us with interesting takes on familial relationships. Over the holidays my Mother and I were at the kitchen table, shuffling around the Southern Living magazines and Christmas books and cookbooks and shopping lists that hold our world together during the last two weeks of December. Bitty was set up at the table as well, coloring in satisfied companionable silence while Down Home With The Neelys on The Food Network provided low background noise. "I just don't know, I'm not sure about that recipe," said my Mom, "but I feel like we HAVE to have at least one chocolate dessert..." We both paused and mulled this over. Bitty glanced up at the television screen and then watched with interest as Gina Neely (African American woman in her forties or so, in case you're not a cooking show person) wielded a hand mixer over a bowl of butter and sugar while shaking her hips to an imaginary beat. She pointed at the screen and declared "That's my grandmother," and then went back to her coloring. We watched her with confusion for a moment before Mom tentatively asked her if she was sure that was her grandmother. She said "Yes, it is," with a finality indicating that suggestions to the contrary were futile. "Well," said Mom, "there you have it."
Even more fascinating was Bitty's interest in the trophy presentation after a New Year's day bowl game, when she gestured toward the several dozen football players crowded on the stage at midfield and announced "Those are aaaalll my daddies." Jake glanced up from his magazine, mumbled "I certainly hope not," and looked back down.
Bitty will have a new baby brother joining her in the next few days, and we're all curious as to how she will handle this major life change. She has proven, at least, that she somewhat understands the concept of "having" and naming children, as she recently informed my Dad that she is going to have a little girl, and will name her Mississippi Welch.
I am not ruling out the possibility that she may very well understand all of the concepts I've mentioned and just actually be a creative comedic genius.
Monday, February 7, 2011
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