The kid just wants another waffleJune 28th, 2007 @ 5:01 am
This last weekend The King and I noticed Babboo doing this weird thing where he touched his thumb with the index finger on his other hand. This totally confused us. We kept asking him; do you have a sore on your thumb? We thought maybe he had a splinter or the cat has scratched him, or something.
Sunday, while Babboo was eating his dinner in his highchair, he kept touching his thumb over and over again. The King turned to me perplexed, and asked; does he know sign language?
I don’t know if he does. I didn’t teach him anything. Did you?
I didn’t. Maybe he learned it at school.
Yeah, maybe. I’ll ask them on Monday.
On Monday I was met at the school door by Babboo’s teacher. She told me that Babboo is getting very demanding. This was not news to me. Then she told me that they are trying very hard to get Babboo to use his words. I was all; he has words? Because seriously, he has words?!?
And that’s when she told me all about how he knows the signs for more, again, drink, food, and thank you.
So he was actually using sign language this weekend? And we, his parents, were in the dark. Completely. The kid was trying to communicate with us and we were staring at him blankly.
I can just imagine Babboo inner dialog:
What is wrong with these idiots? Can’t they see I want some more freakin’ waffles? How many times do I have to do this stupid sign before I get some more.damn.waffles? They just keep looking at me and smiling. Get off your fat asses and get me a damn waffle.
I wonder what the sign is for can I get some new parents? These two suck.
My Sweet Babboo
LaLa
said,
June 28, 2007 at 10:36 am
Are you SERIOUS? That is amazing!
As one of Baboo’s innernet aunties I am extremely proud of him.
He is the cleverest.
Jessie
said,
June 28, 2007 at 11:21 am
That’s pretty funny, but also really cool. We plan on trying at least a few signs with our future children, and I think it’s so neat how they can learn it so early!
motomom
said,
June 28, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I believe the sign you are looking for is the one with the arm bent at the elbow and the middle finger extended.
meritt
said,
June 28, 2007 at 12:41 pm
On the flip side I’m thinking “stupid teachers… why the heck didn’t they TELL YOU they were teaching him signing so you could ‘hear’ him at home?”
Don’t knock yourself out on this one. They were the screw ups. I can’t believe they didn’t mention it???? Weird.
On the other hand - it’s time they start helping him use his words since they are obviously getting concerned now that their teaching just slid backwards and he isn’t speaking the words like he should.
Gah. (I used to be a preschool teacher back in another life when I was first married. I can’t believe they don’t mention these things to you!)
Emily
said,
June 28, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Ahhhh, poor baby. He was being so good using his signs like his teachers told him to. And you two…..well, you just ignored him. He was probably thinking “damnit, my sign machine is broken!”
Operation Pink Herring
said,
June 28, 2007 at 12:53 pm
They should have told you the signs! That’s just common sense. And Babboo? You go, kid. That’s seriously impressive.
This reminds me of Meet the Fockers!
Liza
said,
June 28, 2007 at 12:56 pm
We half-assed tried to teach Noah signs. More was probably the only one we really worked on, with no visible impact in 3 weeks of trying.
Then, out of nowhere, 2 months later, he’s all “more! more! more!” with the fingertips together. We think that he thinks that’s the word for eat. Or for food.
Erika
said,
June 28, 2007 at 1:15 pm
DAMMIT, CAN THEY TEACH THEM TO MY KID?!
Frema
said,
June 28, 2007 at 2:13 pm
This made me laugh. What a smart boy Babboo is!
*pixie*
said,
June 28, 2007 at 2:32 pm
He looks like such a man in that picture.
madmom
said,
June 28, 2007 at 2:41 pm
uhhh, shouldnt they hav told you guys about the signing?? how else would you have known? But seriously, how cute
he’s all ‘duh people, more NOW!!!’….hahaha
Corinne
said,
June 28, 2007 at 3:08 pm
MK
said,
June 28, 2007 at 3:40 pm
You don;t suck! The teachers should have told you. But I do think the inner dialogue was pretty funny!
CPA Mom and Soccer Mom Angela
said,
June 28, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Dude, if my child started using that sign, I would have NO idea what he wanted. I know sign and that is NOT the sign for more. Unless you have some crazy dialect of ASL out there on the West Coast.
They should have told you anyway. Numb nuts.
heidikins
said,
June 28, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Hahaha! My mom actually uses some sign language in her pre-school classes, but she also has the parent-teacher night where she lets the confused mom’s and dad’s know what is going on. Love this story! Love Babboo’s thoughts! And am now craving waffles… so thank you for that.
xox
Chas
said,
June 28, 2007 at 5:45 pm
That is so cool!!! I can’t believe they never mentioned to you guys that they are teaching him sign language…might be a good thing to tell the parents!!
Rachel
said,
June 28, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Holy hell this story made me laugh!!!! I can’t believe he knows sign language!!! Babboo is so freakin smart! Also, the school teaches this and doesn’t tell you? That’s kinda mean to tha kid isn’t it?
Art Nerd
said,
June 28, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Dear Babboo-
Your teachers suck because they didn’t let mommy and daddy in on the sign thing. They’ll understand you now- that is, until the teenage years, when you will dye your hair black, wear makeup and listen to the Cure.
Steph
said,
June 28, 2007 at 6:26 pm
HA!
Candace
said,
June 28, 2007 at 6:54 pm
This is too funny!! After a rough day with the kids(oh- wait it’s only 2pm!!!) this made me laugh.
Christar
said,
June 28, 2007 at 7:58 pm
It’s amazing how smart kids can be. I think we underestimate them. Good for Babboo!
Laurel
said,
June 28, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Wow, that’s so cool! I definitely could have used some signing skills back in my babysitting days.
Also, Babboo is right. Waffles are tasty and almost always merit a second serving.
Audrey
said,
June 28, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Babboo’s parents don’t suck. His teachers suck for not telling his parents about the sign language.
On the other hand, more waffles for you if you don’t know he wants more!
angela
said,
June 29, 2007 at 1:30 am
That’s so adorable. The kid just needs some waffles!
Amber
said,
June 29, 2007 at 2:46 am
Baby sign language was our survival for our spirited daughter. My favorite sign of hers was when we initially brought her home from the hospital, she fell alseep with her middle finger on her pacifier…
SJ
said,
June 29, 2007 at 2:55 am
When Keven Jr. was younger and in daycare they taught him sign language and didn’t tell us - I thought it was just our daycare but I see that it’s not! What’s up with that?
I think it’s cool that my kids know some sign language, and I think it’s great for Babboo!
Heather B.
said,
June 29, 2007 at 4:26 pm
That’s so sad and yet cute and funny.
I honestly (sometimes) think about what it would have been like to be a baby and on the cusp of using actual words and knowing exactly what you want, except no one can understand. It almost makes me feel bad for them if it wasn’t for that whole and then they get to nap once a day, thing.
velocibadgergirl
said,
June 29, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Good gracious, that’s a cute kid, even when he is pissed off!
Lindsey
said,
June 30, 2007 at 3:15 pm
That is crazy!!! You’d think if the school was teaching kids how to sign that they would clue the parents into it so this type of situation doesn’t happen. I mean, jeeez.
Lisa B
said,
July 1, 2007 at 3:08 am
This made me laugh out loud. Oh the unbearable agony of NEEDING another waffle!
metalia
said,
July 2, 2007 at 2:27 am
That’s HILARIOUS. (Also, I love his little ringer tee. Surprise, surprise.)
Lisa B
said,
July 2, 2007 at 3:09 pm
P.S. Talked about you on my blog. Hope that’s ok.