Living Museum of Learning
Rhea Says... (Age 3)
Children don't try to be memorable.
They simply say exactly what they're thinking.
These are a few conversations An recorded during one season of Rhea's life.
Every line is preserved exactly as it was spoken.
("Me" is mommy, "Rhea" is Rhea)
Rhea: Rhea no like it
Me: let’s go! 2 minutes
Rhea: no, 3 minutes is good
Rhea was reenacting climbing this morning
Rhea: want to eat snack
Me: hmmm, maybe later
Rhea: hmmm, maybe now
Rhea: want water gun
Me: but you don’t have one
Rhea: want to buy it, at Target
Rhea gets off the toilet
Me: good job
Rhea: Rhea no pee, no say good job
Rhea: Rhea’s a big girl want to go
driving in the car
Rhea: So lucky today
Me: ?
Rhea: All green lights, so lucky
in car, Rhea reading
Rhea: I need to poop
Me: can you hold it?
Rhea: no because I’m holding a book
Rhea: I like your parents mommy
Each sentence lasted only a few seconds.
Together, they capture a remarkable stage of childhood:
a mind negotiating...
observing...
explaining...
and making perfect sense of the world in its own way.
Childhood has its own logic.
Its own humor.
Its own language.
Years from now, we may not remember the ordinary moments that gave rise to these conversations.
But these few sentences will bring them back instantly.