The cat got your tongue?

Have you ever asked this to your 3 yr old. I unfortunately did. We were sitting there on a lazy evening.. I was ironing away and Nantu was doodling on his magic erase board. He made a big + sign and said that was an airplane. "see the wings" he said.. and I in all my foolishness told him that it wasn't one! I can sometimes be so dense, and start ridiculous arguments with the All-Knowing-Nantu. In my defense, this is my way of challenging his mind and creativity! But for once Nantu was quiet..very quiet!! So I posed the dumbest question of all "The cat got your tongue?"... He looked at me thoughtfully, I expected him to say "You are so silly mommy!"

"Is it a bad cat?" he asked
"No of course not " I said
"Why does it want my tongue?" he asked
Now how do I explain that it is just an expression, a figure of speech if you may!! So I rushed to make amends!
"There is no cat" I said "I was just being silly"
"No" he said "adhu silly story illai, adhu scary story!" (that wasn't a silly story, that was a scary story)
"I am very sorry " I said.
When will I ever learn? A few months back I told Nantu "Its raining cats and dogs"
He ran and looked out the window and said
"Amma kadhai viadadhey.. its raining water!" (Amma dont make up tales, its raining water!)

Its so refreshing isn't it? We are always looking for hidden/double meaning in every thing we hear, and children take everything so literally!
A couple of weeks back Nantu's teachers sent him a gift of some books! So I took Nantu to the store to get them a thank you card. He then drew a sun and a smiley face and wrote his name in it... his teachers were so happy to receive the card! And were so proud to see his artwork! For Ms. K he even made a balloon... not for the others.. when asked he simply answered "I think she will like a balloon! "
A month or so ago.. I started worrying about Nantu not learning much in school. He has so much fun there though.. but if I ever relocate to India I can smell Trouble with a capital T. So I started teaching him to write alphabets and Nantu protested. I pushed and prodded, cajoled and bribed... and finally taught him to write A ... I took a print out of dotted A's from a website and sat with him for 2 hours to get him to write just a little bit!! I then felt so guilty for pushing him at the end of it, that I stopped with the A.

But since then, he has developed an interest in writing... and has learnt so many alphabets now.. and no dotted lines mind you.. He makes me tell him a method to write. For example A is Slanting line, from the top (for the second slating line!) and horizontal line, N is straight line, from the top and from the bottom , B is straight line a curve from the top to the center, from the center to the bottom and so on. These instructions seem to work for him and help him!! (Edited to add.. I came online to delete the last bit that sounds like a brag, I meant to pass on some tips to other mom's in the same boat.. but since some of you have already commented :) I will just apply some anti-jinx dotmom style...
Bye..bye from silly mommy for now!
********************************************************
The sequel to the tale Life is like that is available in Creative Outbursts - Life is like that - part 3
My Valentine day short story is available here