Absolutely headache

Dominic has been learning new words from the dictionary, mostly words beginning with 'a'.

A few days ago, he came down with a very bad infection of some sort, giving him a headache and making him throw up. 

A few days later, when things have cleared, we wanted to make sure if he still has a headache.

Daddy: Dominic, is your head still painful

Dominic: <inaudible, something like a weak 'nyes'>

Daddy: What? I didn't hear.  Is your head still painful?

Dominic: Absolutely! (and then smiled at his new word).

* * *

New life skills

As the children grow, they also acquire new skills.  Usually it's fascinating to observe them learn how to tell time, or how to climb the stairs, or how to multiply.

Some skills may not be as fascinating:

Pia: (rummaging through her toy box) Daddy, I can kill you very easily.

* * *

Key to success

Pia holds up one of her drawings:

Pia: The first one to raise their hand will get this drawing.

Daddy raises his hand first.  Pia gives the drawing to Mummy.

Daddy: Hey, I raised my hand first. Why did you give the drawing to Mummy?

Pia: (gives complicated explanation why, and then...) Tomorrow if you want to get the drawing you must be faster -- you must try harder than your best.

* * *

Practicing a Presentation, 4

Pia practicing a presentation she will make at school. She's pointing to a family photo:

Pia: This is my family...

Then points to Sammy in the photo

Pia: This is my baby.

* * *

Practicing a Presentation, 3

Continuing her presentation practice:

Pia: This is my family, this picture was taken at home (then starts with the next picture)

Daddy: Wait...say something more about that picture, when was it taken (the family is posed beside a Christmas tree, taken 6 months ago)

Pia: Oh, ok. This is my family, this picture was taken at home on Saturday.

* * *

Practicing a Presentation, 2

Pia is practicing a presentation, using Daddy's pencil sketches where photos would be.

Pia: This is my family (then goes to the next picture)

Daddy: Wait, say something more about the picture, like where was it taken from?

Pia: Ok. This picture was taken from the computer.

* * *

Practicing a Presentation,1

Pia will be making a presentation at her class about her family and about how she lives her school's values.

She had to stick photos of her family onto a pre-designed board.  But since we didn't have the photos developed yet, Daddy made quick pencil sketch replicas of the photos and pasted them where the real photos would be, so that Pia could already begin practicing her presentation:

Pia: (points to a 'picture' of her family) This is my family. (Then goes to the next picture)

Daddy: Wait, say something more about the first picture, like where was it taken?

Pia: Oh, ok....This is my family, my Daddy drew this picture.

* * *

The Fear of Getting Old

Dominic's two lower front teeth has fallen off a year ago.  The dentist helped pull them off.  Pia remembers the event and dreads the day she turns six:

Pia: Daddy, I don't want be six years old.

Daddy: Why not?

Pia: Because my teeth will fall off.

* * *

Cake Lover's Freudian Slip

Pia made a card for Daddy even if there was no occasion:

I Love you Daddy when it is (my) your birthday can you bey a cek BY SoPhia

 

* * *

Identity Problem

Pia dawdling over lunch. Mommy's getting bothered and pushing Pia to finish eating.  Low voices.  High tempers.

Mommy steps out the kitchen.  Pia gets a last word in.

Pia: MOMMY! MY NAME IS NOT 'EAT YOUR RICE FIRST!'

* * *

How the great theories of math begin

Dominic and Pia at lunch:

Dominic: Pia, do you know what infinity plus infinity is?

Pia: Infinity

Dominic: Correct.  Do you know why?

Pia: Because it rhymes.

* * *

Tantrums, 2

We had warned Pia that we will brook no more tantrums and that she will be shipped to her Mom's hometown if she has another one.

Daddy comes home from work:

Pia: Daddy, did you ask Mommy if I had tantrums?

Daddy: Not yet. Do you want me to ask her?

Pia: <no reply>

Daddy:  What will Mommy tell me if I ask her?

Pia: Pack my bags?

* * *

Tantrums, 1

As precious as Pia is, she has a temperament that drives Mommy to exhaustion.  When Pia has her tantrums (and it's often every day), it's the most frustrating thing in the world. 

It came to a point where Daddy warned Pia that if she had one more of her tantrums, we will pack her bags and ship her off to her Mommy's hometown. (Not really, but don't tell her that).

Next day:

Daddy: (just home from work) Pia, do you remember what we told you about what will happen if you have your tantrums again?

Pia: Yes.

Daddy: So, did you have a tantrum today?

Pia: Almost.

* * *

This Need Didn't Make it to Maslow's List

Rushing to get everyone bathed and dressed for church.  It was Pia's turn to get into the shower, and she had been told 10 minutes ago to already get undressed.  But she hadn't.  Mommy looked for her and found her trying to squeeze into a corner under the bunk bed:

Mommy: Pia!  I told you to take your clothes off and get inside the bathroom! 

Pia: Mommy, I still need to hide!

* * *

Clark Kent could have done away with his eyeglasses

Mommy always combs Dominic's hair after giving him his bath.  This morning, Mommy was busy with Sammy so Dominic grabbed a comb and combed his hair by himself, creating a parting line just one inch above his left ear -- everything to the right of that line combed across the head over to the other side.

Pia: (studying Dominic's face) You don't look like yourself.

* * *

Poor instructions

When the family is walking together, Pia often likes to run ahead of the rest.  With Sammy on his stroller, we could not keep up. Sometimes she would run far ahead and then turn the next corner and we get anxious at not seeing where she is.

One day, Pia runs ahead and turns the corner:

Daddy: (loudly) PIA! Come back!

Pia: (hears Daddy and comes running back) What?

Daddy: (scolding) Don't go where you cannot see us!

Pia: (walks ahead 2 meters, and then with her back to us) Is this ok?

Daddy: Yes

Pia: BUT I CANNOT SEE YOU!

* * *

Living up to tough standards

After church, while waiting at the train station on the way to Pia's friend's birthday party. Dominic was playing with his new Rubik's cube:

Mommy: Dominic, did you show that lady in church how you were solving that cube?

Dominic: Yes.

Mommy: She was impressed. Her son was also playing, but it wasn't with something that needed thinking. But you, you were using your brain.

Pia: (always intent on being no worse than her brother) Mommy, am I?

* * *