Wednesday, January 31, 2007

When you die

I am reminding Gwenchik, that she has another five minutes left until she has to go to bed.
Gwen: When you die, I will get to do anything I want to!
Me: You want us to die?
Gwen: No, not right now. You can still live for a while, just remember one day I'll get to do what I want!

How true, how true ...

Monday, January 29, 2007

Peer acceptance

Gwenchik got back from her first day at a new daycare.
Me: So, how was it?
Gwen: It was so much fun!!! And I got a present!
Me: Who did you play with?
Gwen: Jasmin
Me: What about other kids?
Gwen: Angela told me that she will not play with me because I am mean. But, of course, she lied to me, because I am not mean at all! So I told her that it is really bad when a person lies so obviously.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Snow

From Veronika
On our way to childcare, there is a dusting of snow on the ground:
Gwen: Dogs do not like the snow because it is cold and wet.
Veronika: Do you like the snow?
Gwen: I like to eat it, but my hands get cold and I cry.
Veronika: What should we do?
Gwen: You get the snow and bring it to the car, and you give it to me.
Veronika: I have a better idea. We both collect the snow in a plastic bag and keep it in the plastic bag.

So this is what we did. We collected the snow and she did not cry.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Rank has its privileges

Before lunch we are all cleaning up the house. I have asked Gwenchik to clean up her toys in the living room.

Gwen: Princesses do not clean!
Me: What about Cinderella?
Gwen: She cleaned before she was a Princess, but not after.

You can't really argue with that....

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Arranged marriage

From Veronika
Gwen: Do you know that I will get a husband when I grow up?
V:?
Gwen: I want to marry my Dad, but mama does not let me. She will get me a different husband.
V: Why do you need a husband?
Gwen: I do not know. I just know that Mom will get me one when I grow up, so I do not take Daddy.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Electra complex

From George
While putting Gwenchik to bed, out of the blue comes the following:
Gwen: When I grow up, I will marry you, Dad.
George: But I already have a wife. What about Mom?
Gwen: But I do not want to marry Mom.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

What Gwyneth says

From George
When Gwyneth was two, we were walking down the street and discussing the sounds different animals make.
Me: What does a dog say?
Gwen: Ruff, ruff!
Me: Right. Now, what does a lion say?
Gwen: Roar!
Me: Right. Now, what does a cat say?
Gwen: Meow, meow!
Me: Right. Now, what does Gwyneth say?
Gwen: (thinks about it) No! No! No!

Monday, January 8, 2007

Saber fight

From Veronika
On the way to childcare, we are reading "Tarakanije":
Gwen: I will cut off his (bug's) head. I will scratch him and kill him.
Veronika: ?
Gwen: Because he wants to eat the small ones.
Veronika:?
Gwen: I could have had a saber but I am a Princess and a Princess does not have a saber.
Veronika: The Nutcracker does. You can borrow the saber from the Nutcracker.
Gwen (thinking): OK, but do not tell him. I will kill Tarakanije and put the saber back.

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Sharing

Lately I noticed that Gwenchik likes to share her toys, but now always makes sure that the others are aware that she is sharing and will get all her stuff back after before they leave.
Gwen: Here is my balloon. Do you want to play with it?
Nastya (her friend): Yes.
Gwen: Here, you can play with it now, but before you go home you will give it back to me, because it is mine, ok?
Than she turns to me to make sure that I saw that she shared. I keep asking myself what prompted my daughter to do these upfront verifications to whom things belong?

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Reminder to Santa

New 2007 Year! We did the proper thing of leaving a glass of milk and a cookie on our fireplace mantel; and Gwenchik actually wrote her name (with my help) in Russian and in English, in case Santa can only speak one language.
Next morning we awoke to loud whoops of joy when Gwenchik discovered the Cinderella dress on the hook above the fireplace. She was thrilled! In the evening, before going to bed, she explained to me that Santa forgot the crown and the shoes to go with the dress.
Gwen: It is probably because he is a boy, and they do not wear crowns. Mom, you have to tell him, otherwise he will forget again.
Me: I will tell him for the next New Year.