Me: So, look, when the Grinch [seasonal] is saying something loudly it’s written in capital letters. Can you read those letters?
Her: N-O-T
Me: And that spells nnnn…
Her: Can you please just read the story?
Me: Nnnnooottt.
Her: Look, I know that if I were in school in Ireland I would be learning to read and write now but I’m not in Ireland I’m in Belgium and can you just read the story?
Me (much chastened): OK.
In an effort to ensure that I will have less time to stoke my daughter’s paranoia, I have signed up to NaBloPoMo. You should too. You know you are strangely fascinated by the idea.
Actually, Irish schools are just as backward as Belgian at pushing children forward and they don’t usually start teaching reading till kids are 6, much to the chagrin of over-achieving parents
Consider me “…strangely fascinated”. Yah Bugger.
we have conversations like this as well. I KNOW the wee one is reading at school, but when i encourage her to sound out words when we’re reading books at home, she just looks at me like, lady, i’m off the clock. do i look like i’m wearing my school uniform? no. am i wearing pajamas? yes. do not bother me with this reading stuff.’
Told off in The Princess’s inimitable imperious tones. Pricesless.