Louise likes to put rocks in her mouth. Partially for my reaction I think. Following which she chases me with her tongue hanging out to wipe it on my clothes. She seems to think it’s funny.

Ever conscious of language development, I’ve been saying ‘yuck’ and ‘that’s yucky’ when she munches down on another mouthful of rocks. Toddlers are their own creatures though, and will learn what they will.

This week at Alice Lake camping, she had woken up from a nap fairly cranky, and was finally pacified with a banana. Naturally she decided to amuse herself by eating from the peeled side too. I said ‘yuck’ to her, and she burst into tears! I was perplexed… until the next day. I was drinking hot coffee, which she wanted to share. I couldn’t share piping hot caffeine with my daughter, so I told her it was yucky. She frowned at me in confusion, trying to see if I really meant it, then promptly bent down, picked up a rock and put it in her mouth.

Louise thinks ‘yuck’ means to have a rock in her mouth. I guess she didn’t want to have to eat a rock when she was enjoying her banana!