A Trivial Diary (Imitation)

Even after her 18-month checkup, my daughter doesn't really speak much.

“Elephant,”
“Daddy!”

“Air conditioner,”
“Daddy!”

She doesn't seem to have much interest in imitating me, either.

I hold my daughter in my left arm while I clear the dishes or bring in the laundry with my right hand.

When I do that, I give her a play-by-play to keep her from getting bored.

“Heave-ho, heave-ho. Now I’m putting the dishes away.”

“Heave-ho, heave-ho. Now I’m taking the clothes out of the washing machine.”

I’ve been doing that, but lately she’s started imitating me.

“Heave-ho, heave-ho.”

You’re imitating that part? You don’t need to imitate that part.

And please don’t pull out a chair and try to climb onto the table while saying heave-ho.

Raising a child really doesn't go the way you expect it to.