Okay, so I'm on a yard and Nicholas (5-1/2) kick right now. A G'ma's prerogative! Remember last weekend when I told you I had to cut all the monkey grass clumps manually because the new shoots were too tall for the lawnmower? I wasn't lying. This photo is from last week but today, a week later, they've probably grown another inch or more.
What I didn't tell you then was that Nicholas at one point said, "You're giving them a haircut, G'ma!" HaHa. Yes, of course. So then I told him to count all the plants to see how many haircuts I'd have to give.
You have to first understand that we're talking about monkey grass lining our sidewalk to the front door and then all along one part of the driveway on both sides. When Nicholas got to 108 (counting out loud), he immediately stopped and said, "G'ma, there are 800!"
"800?" I exclaimed. "That's a lot. Are you sure it's not 108?"
"Nope. It's 800."
So when I was all done, I said, "Okay, let's count them together to make sure." I counted 111 and then added the 5 at the mailbox, making 116. So I said, "It looks like there are 116."
To which Nicholas adamantly replied, "No, G'ma. There are 800!"
"Oh yes! I forgot. 800!"
So that's his story and I'm sticking to it! (G'ma's prerogative.)
"800?" I exclaimed. "That's a lot. Are you sure it's not 108?"
"Nope. It's 800."
So when I was all done, I said, "Okay, let's count them together to make sure." I counted 111 and then added the 5 at the mailbox, making 116. So I said, "It looks like there are 116."
To which Nicholas adamantly replied, "No, G'ma. There are 800!"
"Oh yes! I forgot. 800!"
So that's his story and I'm sticking to it! (G'ma's prerogative.)
Definitely 800, G'ma! He's a smart boy, that one. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I'm familiar with monkey grass, but it looks like it could get the better of you if you let it. Very sturdy stuff. And nice job on the haircuts!
He's already learning abstract thinking. I'm all for not taking things literally! :)
ReplyDeleteYeah I don't know much about monkey grass either but I know P tells me that last line all the time, and I laugh so hard every time...
ReplyDeleteChristina: I should have mentioned that our monkey grass is the
ReplyDeletevariegated lyriope variety. It's a perennial and is very hardy, so all I have to do is give it a haircut every spring and just weed it from then on. It's used in the South as a border in landscaping. When full-grown, it has a wonderful arching spray that touches the tips of the plant next to it. Very nice.
Ruth: His comment reminds me of Alzheimer's patients. They often will say things that are totally "wrong" or off the wall. But we were taught to "get inside their story" and basically go along with it. I have learned to do the same thing with Nicholas because sometimes it doesn't make sense to argue. Somethimes it's more important to let him be "right" because it really doesn't matter in the long run. He'll learn soon enough that 108 is not the same as 800!
ET: I laugh, too. "That's my story and I'm stickin' to it" is a great
country song by Collin Raye, as you probably already know.
actually I didn't, thanks!
ReplyDeleteAlways believe what a child has to say. In his mind it 800 and nothin' less. You can't win against an argument like that, can you G'Ma? ;-)
ReplyDeleteSometimes, we adults are just as stubborn about our facts. :)
ReplyDeleteET: You'd love that song, if you ever get a chance to hear it :)
ReplyDeleteCS: You're so right! It's kinda fun to go with HIS story!
Tim: Yes. We need to relax a bit and not worry about always being right!
Mr. Fab: 800 IS right :)
That remind me of one my daughter said, she was probably around the same age. She said she was able to count to 1000. Then she tried to proove that to me and began counting. She did it perfectly until 100, then, she said: 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000! That was it! Simple, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteOur kids are so precious, aren't they. Whatever they say turns to gold!
ReplyDelete