Shhh. My baby pony is sleeping.

Now that it's summer and my older daughter, Rachel, doesn't have to get up for school, she sleeps in. She doesn't sleep very late, but she's usually still asleep when Kate, who is younger, wakes up. Kate starts talking as soon as she wakes up and runs a constant narration and commentary on everything until she goes to sleep again. And, she's sort of loud about it.

Frequently in the mornings I say, "Shhh. Rachel is sleeping." And, "Please be quiet. I don't want you to wake Rachel."


A few nights ago my parents were over for dinner and the six of us were sitting around the table enjoying a lovely meal. Kate got up and moved to the couch with a stuffed pony and a blanket. She wrapped the pony in the blanket and then turned to us all saying, "Shhh. My baby pony is sleeping. I don't want you to wake the pony."

There was some laughter. Some general comments about how cute Kate was. I think someone asked her if it was the pony's bedtime.

Kate responded by repeating her instructions in a much more firm voice, "Shhh. My baby pony is sleeping. I don't want you to wake the pony." And the thing that is really hilarious is that we all lowered our voices to a whisper and ate the rest of our meal really quietly.

Some might say that a 3 year old shouldn't get to decide that everyone else needs to eat their meal in silence. I say that anyone who has a 3 year old knows that it's much more enjoyable to eat your meal in silence than it is to try and argue with a 3 year old.