Mind the gaps



Havin' a rockin' time in our aubergine-less gaff

 Regular readers will know that Charles is slowly, slowly learning that speaking is probably a good idea. He's giving it a bash, this talking lark.

He's putting two words together now. You can see the concentration in his face, as he says; "Didi" (that's Charles for 'Rosie') "sleep", then will take a deep breath and say "Didi sleep". To which we say, as the Speech Therapist told us too; "that's right Charles, Rrrrosie is asleep". Except we don't of course because 'Didi' is just soooo cute!

So he's getting there. But as we walked back from school today I realised that gaps in their vocab knowledge can point in neon flashing lights to gaps in your parenting, or your life in general.

Charles spotted down our road a man washing his car. Charles sported an utterly blank face. He was racking his brain for a phrase fit for such an activity. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. He came up with "man" and then a kind of Justin aka Mr Tumble-type polishing action. Gap number 973; we don't wash our car.

Further down the road we bumped into a neighbour who said to Rosie "I love your new wellies" to which Rosie, who's never been known for her deflection of compliments, said "yes they're purple" and our kind neighbour said, "I'd call that colour 'aubergine' I think". I know exactly what's coming. "What's oh ber jeeen?", "hahaha" we all say, "she's a card, our Rosie!" I exclaim.
When we're within the safety of our own plebby four walls I say "you know what aubergines are honeypie, they're what mummy spends an hour preparing for the veggie moussaka!" Rosie asks "is that a joke Mummy, "yes" I say "'fraid so my darling!"