“Mama? I want candy.”
“Okay, Michael. What kind of candy do you want?”
“I want these:”
“Oh, okay. Let’s see… ah, here they are:”
“Yep. Thanks, mom!”
Daddy was witness to this little exchange while we were at the store yesterday, but has given up trying to figure out how she was able to interpret his gurning-based descriptor.
Communication between mother and son charts a course that daddies cannot travel.



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July 16th, 2009 - 1:49 pm
It was dumb luck I remembered his "sign" for the gummy lifesavers. Michael can be just soooo cute!!!
July 16th, 2009 - 2:08 pm
@Wife — there's nothing dumb about your luck; and I remain convinced that your ability to figure out his odd sign language is mainly because you're a top student in Michaelonics.
July 16th, 2009 - 6:12 pm
I have to say I agree with you. The older son and I can understand each other PERFECTLY; we always have, ever since he was able to talk. He uses the weirdest word combos sometimes, yet I understand him and Jim always carries on about how the boy should "Speak properly, otherwise nobody will understand you."
And my son says, "But mom does."
Hahaha!
July 16th, 2009 - 7:17 pm
Ha! My wife has this ability with both of our older girls. I can occasionally figure it out. More often than not the kids just get frustrated with my feeble attempts and head off in search of the great translator.
July 16th, 2009 - 7:18 pm
I'm good with it. It means at least half the time I'm excused from having to cater.
July 16th, 2009 - 9:26 pm
I used to be able my girls' sign language. Not so much anymore. Now, they speak in strange jargon that only they understand. Everytime I see them communicate in this manner, I just shake my head. They carry on coversations that no one could follow, except themselves. I think they do this on purpose. I think I'd call it teen talk.
July 17th, 2009 - 4:50 am
Ha!! I know I've got instances in my memory bank where I've been able to fulfill requests for kids, and even husband, without proper communication.
But right now I'm too tired to remember any of them.
July 17th, 2009 - 6:30 am
I love the gesture. It really does look like the packaging!
July 17th, 2009 - 7:26 am
@Surprised — yeah, once they hit a certain age they start trying to shut us out. There's no keeping up with the lingo.
@Lizdom — I can do that with my wife, but that's where I put my interpretive energy. To the kids I say "use your words!"
@seashore — I'm still not seeing it, but I'll take your word for it.
July 18th, 2009 - 4:02 am
Odd forms of communication between parent and child are so quirky. I bet you and your wife also have some strange signals that you each understand from one another.
July 19th, 2009 - 6:44 pm
Amen brother. This is why I started my blog. You think I was going to understand my daughters? No way….