For a few months now, Josiah has been able to successfully direct us to the park a half mile away. When we pull up to the main intersection a few blocks from our house, he can successfully determine which way to turn at the four-way stop to go to Chickfila, and which way to go for church (two different ways). Before we round the bend in the road, he starts to cheer in anticipation of the choo-choo tracks that still lay out of sight a tenth of the mile down the road. He can navigate his way through my parents neighborhood to the pool, the duck pond, and the tennis courts. He also starts to ask if we are going to their house if we get on the main road that leads in their direction.
The mapping doesn't only apply to the area near our house. He will cheer for Monkey Joes before it comes into view (a good 15 minute drive away), and in most situations he can accurately determine where we are going before arriving.
The only problem with this amazing skill is when he is smart enough to know we aren't going where he thinks or wants. The other day we were out running errands, and I was going from the store to the bank. They are in opposite directions of our house, so we passed by the turn to our house on our way to the bank. Please keep in mind the "turn" is a few blocks from our house. As we drove by the street, Josiah got incredibly distressed in the backseat. He was crying and saying, "Mama's HOUSE! Mama's house!" as if I needed reminding that I missed the turn. When we were about a quarter mile from the bank (which is situated next to Publix), he started to demand to ride in the Publix car (the one for kids on the cart). He was so distressed when we went to the bank and NOT to Publix, that I found myself secretly wishing that I could turn this magical skill on and off at my convenience. Backseat driving from the 2 year old takes quite a toll on me sometimes.
All of this really stems from the fact that Josiah has a stellar memory. He only has to see something one time, and months later he can discuss the association. Go ahead and entertain yourself with the possibilities. This is MOST DEFINITELY a disadvantage to any parenting slyness we would hope to have. He can open things, turn things on, find items that are supposed to be hidden, or chat your ear off about where he thinks you might be going.
He talks in associations, so if we say we are going to church he starts to ask about doughnuts, playing the drum, checking the microphone, and Mrs. Cynthia--his favorite Sunday school teacher. If we talk about Nana's house, he starts to talk about the basketball, walking the neighbor's dog Mac, and patting the kitty-kitty. If we talk about Noni and Paw Paw's house he names all of the pets, talks about the toys he plays with at their house, and even about Noni playing tennis. If we talk about Monkey Joes he starts to talk about jumping and asks for money for the basketball game. The tiring part is he asks it all in questions, ie- basketball goal?! doughnuts?!, and one must affirm each question every time it is asked...which is over, and over and over. Long car rides can be miserable if there is a basketball goal on the other side. I have tried the distraction method, the ignoring after a certain point method, the "we already talked about this" method...all are for naught. It always ends in an escalating version of:
"mama...mama...basketball goal?"
"Yes, Josiah, there is basketball goal." (2 second pause)
"mama...mama...MaMa...MAMA...MAMA!!!!"
"yes Josiah?"
"basketball goal?"
"yes, love, there is a basketball goal." (2 second pause)
"Mama! Ma-MA!"
So on and so forth until I am completely and utterly exhausted of talking about basketball goals or we arrive at our destination. Usually they are simultaneous.
If you don't want him to know how to do something, most certainly don't EVER do it in front of him. For example, when he demands a towel for the tee-tee accident on the rock outside, don't just wipe it around with your shoe to help it dry faster and ease his distress. He will do it the next time, a full month and a half later. Or, don't try to cut a corner in any aspect of your life just one time, because he will most certainly remind you of your bad habit next time...and the next time...and there will not be such a thing as just one time. It could be a very innocent corner--such as using your teeth to open something, or wiping something on your pant leg instead of grabbing a napkin. Regardless, the child remembers.
This brings us to the funniest "copy cat" event of the week. I was sitting on the couch in the morning, chatting with our upstairs roommate when Josiah walked over to his little potty, pooched his belly out, and successfully aimed his pee-pee into the bowl of the potty. My jaw dropped as I asked him, "Who taught you that?!" No one has taught him that. He just has watched Daddy at some point or another. He looked at me to ask if he could try again, and since he did such a good job the first time, I couldn't do anything but agree. He hasn't tried it since, but it sure was startling and hilarious when he did it out of the blue.
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