I’ve heard that one of the most powerful underlying forces
behind the Terrible Twos is the buildup of a child’s desires and the inability
to communicate them. I can sense this in Robert now, since he clearly
understands a lot but his articulation can't keep pace.
If I ask him if he wants to go outside, for example, he will run off to fetch
his shoes, dump himself into my lap, and extend his foot. Then
there was the time we told him to stay away from the stove because it was “hot,”
and he reacted by blowing on it. (After all, that’s how you cool your food,
right?)
Lately, he’s taken to pointing at something urgently, arching his brow, and
asserting something of grievous importance. In response, I try to be
appreciative and not look like a dog that has just been shown a card trick. It’s
one of those social situations when politeness trumps comprehension — like when
you’re being given driving directions in a rural stretch of a foreign country.
It seems to be working for now, but it’s a matter of time before the jig is
up. I can forgive him for not speaking my language, but I don’t anticipate
getting too much slack for not speaking his.
