I’m putting away the dishes this afternoon and Bella, who is eating her snack at the kitchen table, looks up and says, “Good girl,” as I place the measuring spoons in the drawer. Recently she’s been helping me unload the dishwasher and the measuring spoons are one of the items she can put away by herself. I generally thank her and praise her when she completes each task properly. Guess she’s listening and learning.
* * *
Also recently she’s been responding “Only Mama,” when I tell her not to do something or not to touch something. But it works better with some things than others:
“Bella, please don’t touch the computer.”
“Ondly mama.”
“That’s right, only mama touches the computer.”
“Bella, please don’t shake that” (the loose banister on the porch stairs).
“Ondly mama.”
Not so much.
