Amelia Bedelia moments

Living with a 3-year-old can help remind you of the literal (or unintended) meanings of some of the things we say without thinking about it.

Yesterday we were coming out of a building that has one step before you get to the sidewalk. I'm walking slightly in front of R, turn around and say 'Watch the step.' She stops, looks down and looks back up at me with a puzzled and anticipatory expression, like, okay Ima, I watched the step. Now what?

It reminded me of an incident a while back where I wanted to brush the back of her hair or something and I said, 'Okay, now turn around.' She obediently did a full 360. It's a good point, really; how come no one says 'turn around halfway'?