Who In The Why In The What Now?

What's this Mommy? I smell something, what I smell? Do you see, Mommy? Where'd it go?

My toddler's language skills are exploding. Fully formed questions are bubbling out of her from the moment she wakes up to the moment she falls asleep. She needs to know the who, the what, the where, the why and the when of the world around her. She will take nothing less than a complete and well thought out answer. If your answer is not what she wants to hear she will ask again. If your answer is entertaining, she will ask again. If your answer confuses her, she will ask again. If you answered her in a satisfactory manner, she will ask again. If you ignore her. She. Will. Ask. Again.

It is amazing.

Two very short years ago she was a tiny, helpless newborn whose only form of vocal communication was a series of cries and grunts. I had to figure out what each meant and properly translate them at the speed of light. There was an unspoken agreement between she and I. She could rely on me to be her translator and that I would promise to not stop trying to understand her until her needs where met. In return she promised to not stop trying regardless of how badly I misinterpreted her requests.

Now, here we are. My translating is at a minimum these days. She is able to express her needs to myself, the Hubs, family, friends and complete strangers. I don't spend my days guessing and responding to guttural cries. Instead I spend them having conversations. Answering questions and having mine answered. I get to hear her thoughts. She lets me into her world with her words.

It is incredible.

I never sat her down and explained to her how to ask a question. I never told her when she wanted something she had to ask us using certain words. She just picked it up. Like we all do. Language development is awe inspiring. Now, I am no brain scientist or rocket surgeon. I am sure there is some sort of biological explanation as to how language develops and how certain word lobes transmit information to neurons and then fancy words and scientific definitions happen. I think it is magic.

One minute they are babbling and the next, BAM! "I pooping, Mommy."

All this just by observation. By listening. No wonder a two year old will not listen well. They just spent the last (and only) 24 months of their lives listening. Deeply listening. Listening to every noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, adverb, conjunction, preposition and interjection ever mutter within ear shot. Not only were they listening but the were processing and digesting these sounds. They were figuring out the difference between "what" and "why". They were hearing and mimicking inflection and tone. They were learning to speak their parents language.

They were busy!

Next time my daughter is not listening instead of getting frustrated I will remember, she has been listening to me for 2 years. Maybe it is my turn to listen to what she has to say.

She has been working very hard to learn how to say it.