Sponges and parrots

I've had the funniest experience recently when dropping of Kevin at his day care school. I've inadvertently become the early morning 'storytelling mom'. It all started innocently enough the last couple of weeks. Usually Kevin doesn't mind going to his day care school, but sometimes when he's a little reluctant to let me go or when I have more time before going to work, I'll sit down with him on the playmat and read a short picture book for 5 minutes or so.

Despite my reading the book to him in Dutch and none of the other toddlers speaking Dutch, I've gotten a little audience at these little reading sessions, whith the other kids sitting down around me as well and paying close attention. It's up to the point now where, when I arrive in the mornings, 2 of the other kids start coming to me with a book in their hand. It's too funny.

And when I read and make gestures to help them understand the (Dutch) words, they all mimmick me. This morning, the story was about a little duck in the bathtub, and I was telling and showing how the little duck washes itself in the bathtub and everyone was dutifully pointing to their belly, their backs, their arms....copying me on cue. Too cute.

I guess kids at this age are just total sponges and parrots. They just absorb all new words and experience, regardless of whether they fully understand it and regurgitate it back to you. We should all keep such and open mind and stay open to new experiences.

(Kevin having fun with a new experiences: visiting the butterfly garden at the local science museum)