Mavis has discovered that pointing, grunting, dragging you by the hand, and using the few words of sign language that she knows is good enough for her. She has seen no need to verbally say anything other than "dad" since we got to China.
I can't even lie and say she calls me "dad" too, she just grunts when she wants my attention. Ridiculous.
And then a few weeks ago she started saying "baby" and can make a pretty good impression of a monkey when pressed. Hello? Where is the love for the woman whose life is devoted to taking care of her?
And then the worst thing imaginable. She started saying "Da Ma" when calling out for our maid, Dong Mei. Totally embarrassing. Am I living a real-life version of "The Help"? I try and convince myself this isn't possible-I hardly leave the house and I'd like to think I am still the one doing all of Mavis' care-taking. No social parties (okay, maybe a few) and wait, in addition to cleaning Dong Mei does help a lot with the cooking, and then it dawned on me...I've NEVER seen her use our bathrooms. Oh no...
I may have just been sensitive to the issue because I just watched the movie but it caused great hysteria in our household (or maybe just me) and prompted Steve to start practicing "mama" with her every night. It starts at the dinner table and ends at bedtime. She'll smile, point at me, but never utter a word. Not even just to impress her dad.
That is until now...
No word has ever sounded so sweet.
