Translation Services Provided

I understand just about every word Violet says, but no one else does. How could they? I'm the only one who knows that "jah pees" means "pajamas," and "dad-o's" means "please turn on Dragon Tales right now, Mom, or I will begin a keening wail that will take the finish off the furniture."

This was brought home to me Sunday, when Rusty came over for a visit. I couldn't understand Scarlett at all! But Rusty did.

Me: "Scarlett, would you like some nuts? Some pistachio nuts?"

Scarlett:

Rusty: "She said she's not sure if she's hungry."

Me: "Violet, what about you? Nuts? Pretzels?"

Violet: "Yeah yeah prets in dunkee bow."

Rusty (laughing): "What?"

Me: "She said she wants pretzels in her monkey bowl."

Scarlett: "I too pret ah my pa."

Me: "What?!"

Rusty: "She says she wants the pretzels on her plate."

It was like working at the U.N. Violet and Scarlett are very lucky to have their translators at the ready, to communicate important news to the world. For instance, Violet needed her milk in the PINK sippy cup. Not the blue one. This was highly vital, as communicated to me by wide-open eyes and very loud "NO NO NO NO NO"s. NOT THE BLUE CUP. THE PINK ONE. Luckily, since I had already given the pink cup to Scarlett, Violet was completely OK with taking the blue cup, since toddlers are so flexible and easygoing. HA HA HA HA HA.