For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 06, 2009

well now john doesn’t need to wash his face before dinner

This reminds me of my husband trying to get our daughter to call him “baba” (the Chinese version of “dada”). Unfortunately, I’d been referring to him as her “dad” so he kept saying “baba” she’d point and say “dada!” She still only says “baba” when he’s not around.

My, Liz does seem to be rather selective.

I’ve seen parents do this before and it never works. The kid will either forget or not know what you’re talking about. You just have to savour the moment as it happens and hope they will say the word for the other parent later on.

Babies will only “talk” when THEY want to. You can forget coaching them, never worked for me either.

My oldest nephew at about 18 months let me teach him to say the word camera, and only said it once. It was a hoot!

I spoke in grunt until sometime past two.

My oldest son’s first word was “broke” and my youngest son’s first words were “Me cold”. He (the youngest) only started talking at 4, but started reading at 5. I guess it was the first time he couldn’t get what he needed unless he spoke. (We were outside, and he couldn’t get to his coat.)

Liz looks afraid to speak her name so she has to make “raspberry” sound just like PHFTT! :-) hee hee heeeee… Cute!

Ellie just needs to start her out with “Eliza…” and Lizzie can finish the word.

Our son’s first word was ‘cow’ - as the pasture was 10’ from his window. We never talked baby talk to him.

Interesting. My sister’s first word was “Moo”. We were in the country, driving past a meadow with cows in it, at the time.

She has always been very creative…