Music to My Ears

Cole has learned a new word that has changed our world – "OKAY."

For 4 months now we’ve been listening to "No!"… even when he has not been presented with a yes / no question… even when no one is talking to him. It was bad enough that he seemed to think "no" was the only possible answer for yes / no questions (basically, if he DIDN’T say "no" that meant yes), But then he started giving "no" as his token answer to all questions:

"Cole, how was your day at school today?"

"No!"

And then one morning I awoke to "No! No! No!" coming through the baby monitor from Cole, alone in his crib, apparently warming up for a day full of "no"s.

I kept telling myself, "He’s nearly two. This is normal… They don’t call it the ‘terrible twos’ for nothing. This will pass." And sure enough, it has.

This past weekend Cole has started happily answering "okay" instead of "no" to yes / no questions, finally reserving "no" for times he really means "no." Suddenly the ever-disgruntled protestor has become pleasant and cooperative:

"Cole, help Dada vacuum."

"Okay!"

Or "Cole, put that in the trash for mama."

"Okay!"

It is the best word I've ever heard him say.