Manners?
Do I have manners? In a manner of speaking, yes…
Since before I was able to speak, mama has insisted I say “please” and “thank you”. I had to learn to say these words using baby sign language.
When I started speaking, mama and papa would not give me things unless I asked properly. When I got what I wanted, I had to acknowledge it. My folks still have to remind me sometimes, and boy, do they remind me! They are like slave-drivers! But a few weeks ago, I decided to say thank you on my own.
I have a nightly routine of getting a bath from papa, saying goodnight to everyone in the household, and then being read two books and put to bed by mama.
One night, I surprised papa by thanking him for something we did earlier during the day. I did this for a couple of nights, and while papa was pleased, he assumed that mama told me to say those things. Piffle, I thought of saying those things on my own!
When mama told papa that she didn’t prompt me, I saw points racking up on papa’s scoreboard. Ding-ding-ding! Good, now I would like to redeem some of those points. What are you going to get me?
Toddler Isaac
