Maryam Sophia has become a well grown-up girl, alhamdulillah. She is 2 years, 1 month and 20 days old today. She is so chatty in a way that she speaks like an adult. She started talking like that when she hit 2 years old.
"Bukan macam tu, macam ni- ah"
(Not like that, it's like this- ah)
"Mayam nak buat sendiri"
(I'm gonna do this on my own)
"Ummi buat apa?"
(Watcha doing, Ummi?)
"Abi cari apa?"
(Watcha looking for, Abi?)
"Eh ada- ah yogurt Mayam"
(Look my yogurt is actually here!)
"Mana sudu? Mana2?"
(Where's the spoon, where?)
Given her age and size, it often tickles our hearts hearing her sentences. She talks in a moderate tone innocently so we find it amusing than irritating. She can go on talking non stop and really loves when people respond, chat with her and ask her questions.
It is not until yesterday that I learnt that she has come to use the word 'malas' (lazy). Yeah we have discovered her use of a negative statement before which is "Maryam tak pandai" (I'm not smart) but we tackled that by giving her some reassurance that she can do it and the fact that the thing will need to be practiced in order for her to be good at it bla bla bla.
But yesterday I asked her for a favour, to pick up a book that she dropped, off the carpet then she replied "Tak nak, malas" (Don't wanna, lazy).
Heartbreaking.
We as her parents have never taught such a word to her. Therefore the impact it gave to me was massive. I wasn't sure what to do to get her do what I requested when she answered like that. It kind of punctuated things and my thinking came to a complete cul-de-sac. Then that reminds me, so this is the feeling mothers get when their children use harsh words when conversing with them. Awful.
I was so upset I messaged dear hubsy. Apparently he was looking at his phone so he responded quite instantly, about what I could do as a 'punishment' for her for saying such a word. I didn't do any of them though.
Thankfully it didn't last for long when Maryam finally of her own accord picked up the book herself without me using any kind of coercion.
Now still thinking about the best 'punishment' to effectively teach kids to be a better person.
