Baba Gaga Wawa, oh My!

Babies are funny little things. One minute,  you’re up to your eyeballs in dirty diapers and dirty clothes and dirty dishes and for that matter, a dirty house and just plain dirt . . . and the next moment they are chattering about the big dog they saw yesterday while putting on their own shoes and walking out to the car. It all goes by both tauntingly too slow (as all sleep-deprived parents can state) and much too heartbreakingly fast. So when it comes to accelerating the process from baby to adolescent, there are a few areas in which we would happily linger and procrastinate.

For instance, there were several words that our baby learned before she started vocalizing clearly that were apparent only to us as her daily companions. She calls diapers “baba” and water “wawa” and eye glasses “gaga” (although she also refers to tigers as “gaga” so context is important). My sister, who is younger and single and without child, in her infinite wisdom has questioned our continued use of these words as discouraging proper speech (to be fair, she is the most vocal critic, but hardly the only one – others are probably just more tactful). She was also one of several folks who were also concerned about our use of sign language to communicate with our preverbal child. But there’s nothing quite so satisfying for baby or parent when a need is communicated effectively and met instantly, especially if that need happens to be a change of “diaper” or to “eat” or “more” or for “milk” to drink. And there is nothing more endearing than to see her sign “please” (and say “peas!”) and sign “thank you” (“took-you”), even if it is only in the pursuit of more chocolate from the chocolate cupboard.

Now, we understand her concerns, but when you have a baby who is too precocious to remain a baby for long, there are certain idiosyncrasies you cherish and encourage to prolong this sweet and transient phase. What we would give to hear her say “nnnnnnnnoooooo” again in that sweet drawl or “yesshhh” or “dooooooorrrr” these are the moments that fill your heart and embrace your soul. Of course, we also relayed to my sister that her fears were unfounded and our 18 month old daughter often says quite proudly, “daddy says ‘water,’ baby says ‘wawa’ . . . mama says ‘water,’ ‘baby says ‘wawa’ . . . “

This holds true for grammar as well, at least for now. Trying to make the distinction between personal pronouns for a toddler is beyond my current level of mental exhaustion and parental patience. One day, we may regret this decision, but for now, her ability to communicate her wants and needs and ready affection are good enough for us. So if she wants to fetch me my gaga in the morning so I can change her baba while she sips on her wawa, I’m fine with that. Especially as she could very well demand her "cup of tea" to go with her "quiche" and the "motey" (remote) to watch her "Classical Baby" during breakfast.