Maia Evelyn » Maia Speak

On Tooth Fairy Etiquette

valerie — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:17:37 +0000

Maia has been through a flurry of 5-year checkups the past week. At her dental appointment, she received some welcome news. One of her bottom teeth is just a teensy bit loose. Of course, that makes the prospect of a visit from the tooth fairy that much closer to being a reality. Oh joy!

Almost every night after stories and songs, as I am leaving the darkened sleeping room, Maia tells me her plan for when she loses her first tooth. She plans to stay awake to meet her very own tooth fairy. Tonight, I got some specifics:

Maia: When I loose a tooth and the tooth fairy comes, I’m going to stay awake all night.

Me: I know you will, you’ll catch that fairy.

Maia: MOM! She has to go visit other kids too!

Me: Oh! Sorry! You’re going to stay awake to see the tooth fairy.

Maia: Yes. It would be rude for me to catch people.

On Being Green

valerie — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 02:58:52 +0000

At the farmer’s market this morning one of the farmers was wearing a shirt with a forest being chased by a bulldozer. Maia was fascinated by the picture and asked me to tell her all about it. I duly gave her the child-sized version and what she glommed onto was a new and elaborate game of chase: Bulldozer vs. Tree.

She is currently orchestrating this game amongst her and the sisters. She came running up to John and I explaining that her sister Elise was a tree. John, being the rabble rouser that he is asked her what she would be if she hugged her sister, who was a tree. (You know, she’d be a tree-hugger.)

Maia carefully considered the question, and then, her face lighting up as she hit on the answer stated: “I’d be HAPPY”.

Oh sweet big sister, we’re so glad you’d be happy to hug your sister-tree.

You don’t Say…

valerie — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:29:39 +0000

As I was getting ready to teach my preschool lesson on food and nutrition, Maia wanders over and I start asking her to name some favorite foods:

Me: “Maia, what food do you like to eat?”

maia: “Nothing. I don’t like ANY food to eat.” (an all to common answer to any query lately)

M: “Well, do you like strawberries?”

m: “Yes.”

M: “Do you like chicken?”

m: “Yes.”

M: “And what about bagels? And watermelon? And pop beans?”

m: “Yes, I like those foods.”

M: “OK, thanks. We’ll talk about them tomorrow.”

m: “Um, mom, you forgot to ask if I like cereal.”

M: “Do you like cereal, Maia?”

m: “YES! Of COURSE I like cereal.”

You’re What?

valerie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:57:03 +0000

Maia woke up on June 2 and began climbing down her ladder while I was getting the babies out of bed.

“Maia,” I asked, “How old are you today?”

Without hesitation her reply, “I’m three” with the fingers held up for emphasis.

Oh yes, you certainly are.

(tin roof…rusted)

What I Am, What You Are

valerie — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:47:25 +0000

Maia and I were talking about sparkle water. And our conversation kind of went on a merry toddler path like this:

Maia: The sparkle water is really bubbly. I like bubbles.

Valerie: Some people don’t like bubbles in their water. But you do because you’re normal.

M: I’m not normal. You’re not normal. Elise is normal. And Stella…Stella is the chunk-a-munk!

Three “Conversations”

valerie — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:03:14 +0000

Three statements that Maia has made that tickled me:

After music class Monday: “I’m sick with freckles and need to go to the doctor.”

Looking down the elevator shaft (the crack between the door and the car): “That’s where the mice live. The pretend mice.”

During the afternoon doldrums: “Car (her Little People car) is sad and needs to watch a show to make her happy.”

All said as absolute facts. She will also tell you, for reasons known only to herself, that she is a “cat and a spider”. And suggest that you are, perhaps, a “snake and a snail”.

More Toddler Logic

valerie — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:47:52 +0000

Because John is away, the remote decided to stop working just as I was getting ready to put the babies down to bed. The problem, I let Maia watch her show while I fuss with the babies…because it makes us all happy that way.

I began searching for a keyboard after I realized the remote wasn’t broken, it just didn’t want to “talk” to the MYTH box. And then I needed to find a connector to attach the keyboard to the computer…a minutes long exercise in frustration.

Maia kept asking what I was doing. She likes to keep the running narriative, well, running.

“Are you looking for cords mom?”

“Yes. I can’t find the right cord.”

“Well, you can find the left cord!”

I did manage to find everything I needed to get her show on, and after I found the connector for the keyboard I got a very happy “Good job mama for finding the connector!” And of course the remote is working now.