There is always the first time a parent says a word in the presence of their child and goes, 'shit, I shouldn't have said that. Oh god, I shouldn't have said that too.' Lately at home, daddy G and I have been going through exactly that. There are some phrases we usually take for granted in both Tamil and English and use so frequently. Baby G has started repeating a lot of what we say.. He now knows to express himself with one word or so. It's been easy for us to understand him now but we've come to a point to be careful around him while we talk.
Daddy G and I don't use too many offensive words (at least not between us) but now we think words like 'stupid', 'dumb', and 'idiot' are offensive too. We've decided to stop using these words consciously. We've come to this approach of using the right words when or not baby G is around.
I have a problem with people who say 'can you do this for me?'. I'm the 'could' girl. 'Could you do this for me, please?' Can get me to help anyone. Baby G now says 'thanthu baby' and he means it. When his cousins hand him a toy he bends his head and says 'thanthu baby'. Initially he only observed when he was taught to say thank you, but now that he is using it makes me so happy.
Baby G has been asked to use the word 'sorry' but it doesn't end with that. He has been told to go the next step and do the right thing to undo what he did wrong. If he grabs a toy from his playmates he says sorry and gives it back and then waits his turn to play with it.
We are also consciously making it a point to let Baby G not to use words that describe a persons physical attributes. When we describe someone to him, we say words like 'friendly', 'he who gave you the elephant toy' and 'the little girl who helped you with your cycle'. We do teach him all this in Tamil, but when he learns English or any other language we know his transition will be easier.
I personally hope his language turns out well- mannered and polite. Weighing every word I say.
Now that he has started talking.. I'm so excited to start using this. One of my friends gifted me this book and I'm so excited to start using it..
Daddy G and I don't use too many offensive words (at least not between us) but now we think words like 'stupid', 'dumb', and 'idiot' are offensive too. We've decided to stop using these words consciously. We've come to this approach of using the right words when or not baby G is around.
I have a problem with people who say 'can you do this for me?'. I'm the 'could' girl. 'Could you do this for me, please?' Can get me to help anyone. Baby G now says 'thanthu baby' and he means it. When his cousins hand him a toy he bends his head and says 'thanthu baby'. Initially he only observed when he was taught to say thank you, but now that he is using it makes me so happy.
Baby G has been asked to use the word 'sorry' but it doesn't end with that. He has been told to go the next step and do the right thing to undo what he did wrong. If he grabs a toy from his playmates he says sorry and gives it back and then waits his turn to play with it.
We are also consciously making it a point to let Baby G not to use words that describe a persons physical attributes. When we describe someone to him, we say words like 'friendly', 'he who gave you the elephant toy' and 'the little girl who helped you with your cycle'. We do teach him all this in Tamil, but when he learns English or any other language we know his transition will be easier.
I personally hope his language turns out well- mannered and polite. Weighing every word I say.
Now that he has started talking.. I'm so excited to start using this. One of my friends gifted me this book and I'm so excited to start using it..
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