Its interesting for me to watch my two children and how they react differently to what life throws in their way. the two children have two very different personalities and its fascinating to watch as their character evolves and develops. Even though they are just children there are threads that weave into their actions and are in my opinion core characteristics of their personalities.
If I were to summarize the characters of Jasmin Jonathan each in one sentence I would say that Jonathan relies on providence and that Jasmin is more down to earth.
Jonathan's learning pattern is that of making quantum leaps of sudden understanding after the shoe dropped, his having been stuck in a certain phase for quite sometime.
Jasmin seams to have an innate understanding of the various functionings of the world that surrounds her from a very early age. She just "gets it"! By default she understands how things work.
Recently I noticed how the two children react to a situation that required them to request help. Jasmin will say or even shout "taasvu oti" (which means - leave me alone! plural) if in distress, or "taazor li" (meaning - help me, singular) when asking for assistance. When Jonathan was at the age Jasmin is now (2.5 years old) his way of signalling distress was calling loudly for rescuing (in Hebrew "Hatzilu" which means save me! and is a call for the general public present for help in distress) and he whines when things do not go his way as a first remedy (unfortunately he still does this and he is almost 7 years old) rather than asking for help or looking for a solution to his problem.
It would almost seem that Jonathan is operating as if relying on providence (some great force will send help - and this help is usually manifested in the form of mom giving a hand...) almost as if he has a "contract" with God, and he is disappointed in it every time things do notwork as he imagines they should. Jasmin relies on her surroundings for a solution. She will seek a solution by either taking action or requesting assistance. When in distress she can also express the remedy in the form of addressing the reason for her predicament. If she is indeed left to herself when she demands to be left alone (taasvu oti!) then she will achieve her peace of mind and all will be ell! the people are the reason for her predicament and they should be called on to make the desired change, y either leaving or helping...
Despite differences of character,they are siblings. They have many things in common (both are very skilled at ignoring my requests when these interfere with their preferences or favorite TV show...). Jasmin being a fast and practical learner,imitates her big brother (and her kindergarten teacher,and sometimes my expressions too-fascinating mirror that is...) and so she learns skills from him at an incredible pace, doing things (talking on the phone, riding a scooter) much earlier than Jonathan. I can only hope that Jonathan, all imagination and artist's soul that he is, will learn some of his sisters pragmatism from her. Jonathan is in fact a rather doting elder brother and he plays with Jasmin and smothers her with affection. I hope this last to their adolescent years...Optimisms good for the soul...
Monday, October 27, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Jasmin the Educator
Jasmin may very well be my second child, but when it comes to a talent for understanding the world and how it works, she is first rate! Jonathan my eldest, on the other hand, is more the expressionistic type, too busy imagining amazing sceneries to bother with the basics of how things actually work...at other times he can be the true scientists and investigator, with a natural curiosity. It is Jasmin however, who really gets things by instinct. she just knows! this know-how has earned her the title "house mister" in our home (or in Hebrew, baalat ha'bait - the owner of the house...meaning the one who knows and even dictates how things run!)
We are visiting family in Germany. This is our annual summer holiday. As a result, things are a bit more organised in our daily routine, as in, grandma cooks dinner and we all sit down to a family dinner daily. Also, my husband and I take time off and the kids stay with their grandparents. this means grandma runs everything in the order she likes.
Yesterday evening she told me that when she called the kids to dinner, all she had to do was call out "kids, dinner!" and Jasmin simply got up and shut the television and called her brother to come along... but Jonathan does not like having the TV shut (in any situation whatsoever!) and so he did not move. Jasmin returned therefore directly to get him. Giving him a lecture and shaking her warning finger at him, like the educator she became for the occasion. The one who knows how things are done, she scolded her brother for not coming to the dinner table. In Hebrew, my parents' generation used to shake a finger and say NU NU NU! to express displeasure with children. Hence Jonathan received the finger treatment from his little sister, and as my mother in law told me, he immediately obeyed Jasmin after being called to order... and so dinner once again was served in peace.
We do not use the shaking finger much at home, but I am sure that Jasmins kindergarten teachers use the gesture to indicate great displeasure when a child strikes another or bites (well they are only 2.5 year old...). I use it only when Jasmin hurts herself, then the object into which she crashed (table, chair, floor) and caused her to fall and get hurt gets scolded, finger treatment included, for actually causing Jasmin pain. This calms her at most times immediately.
It would seam that Jasmin has assumed the role fo educating her older brother to better manners. He eagerly returns the kindness by repeating various rules to her constantly (you cannot take more than one cracker...you need to go to the bathroom...you need to brush your teeth daily...) proving that he indeed knows the rules , even if he chooses to ignore then more often than not! It may sound like my children argue and condisend each other at all times, but the truth is that there is a lot of love and warmth between them, each looking out for the other in their own special way. they play a lot and hug and kiss and are always happy together (unless arguing over some toy, or who gets to do something first...well, children will be children).
We are visiting family in Germany. This is our annual summer holiday. As a result, things are a bit more organised in our daily routine, as in, grandma cooks dinner and we all sit down to a family dinner daily. Also, my husband and I take time off and the kids stay with their grandparents. this means grandma runs everything in the order she likes.
Yesterday evening she told me that when she called the kids to dinner, all she had to do was call out "kids, dinner!" and Jasmin simply got up and shut the television and called her brother to come along... but Jonathan does not like having the TV shut (in any situation whatsoever!) and so he did not move. Jasmin returned therefore directly to get him. Giving him a lecture and shaking her warning finger at him, like the educator she became for the occasion. The one who knows how things are done, she scolded her brother for not coming to the dinner table. In Hebrew, my parents' generation used to shake a finger and say NU NU NU! to express displeasure with children. Hence Jonathan received the finger treatment from his little sister, and as my mother in law told me, he immediately obeyed Jasmin after being called to order... and so dinner once again was served in peace.
We do not use the shaking finger much at home, but I am sure that Jasmins kindergarten teachers use the gesture to indicate great displeasure when a child strikes another or bites (well they are only 2.5 year old...). I use it only when Jasmin hurts herself, then the object into which she crashed (table, chair, floor) and caused her to fall and get hurt gets scolded, finger treatment included, for actually causing Jasmin pain. This calms her at most times immediately.
It would seam that Jasmin has assumed the role fo educating her older brother to better manners. He eagerly returns the kindness by repeating various rules to her constantly (you cannot take more than one cracker...you need to go to the bathroom...you need to brush your teeth daily...) proving that he indeed knows the rules , even if he chooses to ignore then more often than not! It may sound like my children argue and condisend each other at all times, but the truth is that there is a lot of love and warmth between them, each looking out for the other in their own special way. they play a lot and hug and kiss and are always happy together (unless arguing over some toy, or who gets to do something first...well, children will be children).
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
I have to write this one in Hebrew...Jasmin says "this is the Boom!"
יולי 2014 הימים ימי מבצע "צוק איתן" והילדים בכל זאת מושפעים...
אין דבר יותר שגורם לליבי להתכווץ מאשר השעה אחת עשרה בלילה כשביתי יסמין בת השנתיים וחצי עדיין ערה. שעה שהיא שוכבת בעניים פתוחות ואומרת "זה הבום". לפעמים היא יושבת ומלווה את האמירה הזו עם תנועת מחיאת כף, ככל שהזמן עובר היא מתעייפת ושוכברת אך עדיין לוחשת...זה הבום! כן הערב נשמע יירוט עצבני מעל לראשינו ולא היתה אזעקה, רק בום. והקטנה מכילה את המידע ומעבדת אותו...אומרת שוב ושוב "זה הבום" וממאנת להירדם... וליבי נחמץ. לא נותר לי אלא לחבק, לשיר ולהרגיע, להגיד שאמא פה...ולהרגיש חסרת אונים. לו באמת זה היה נופל עלינו, לא היתה לי היכולת באמת להגן על הילדים המתוקים שלי...זה גורם לחשוב על אמהות בכל העולם המרגישות חסרות אונים אל מול לחימה ואלימות. והקטנה שוב אומרת... זה הבום. ואני שואלת אם הבום מפחיד אותה והיא אומרת כן. אז אני מרגיעה ואומרת שזהו, אין יותר בום...עצוב לחשוב שאני משקרת לביתי...הרי יהיה עוד בום, מחר, עוד שעה...מי יודע? אבל מה עוד אני יכולה להגיד? אני שוב מחבקת, שרה שיר לילה טוב, אומרת לקטנה שלי שהיא מקסימה, גיבורה ומהממת...וסוף סוף היא נרדמה...
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
The Repeated Sylable
As Jasmin develops her speech, I have often noticed that she likes to repeat a certain sound to create a word. Despite her inventiveness, we (the adults in the family) usually understand what she wants. And what she cannot say with words she will make up for with amazingly clear and creative body language.
The repeating syllable examples
Fofon - means cucumber (MELAFEFON in Hebrew) but...
but... HALLO means Telephone (actually my cellular phone)
Zezer mean carrot (GEZER in Hebrew)
Niaiya means tomato (AGVANIA in Hebrew)
Babu or Bu means bottle (BAKBUK in Hebrew)
Sabobon means soap (SABON in Hebrew)
Tata means Grandma (SAVTA in Hebrew)
Mama measn mommy (by now Jasmin says the proper word in Hebrew IMMA)
Body language
Wiyoo means to spin (I should lift her and spin or she makes her skirt fly during a spin), to show me which of the two options she refers to she either turns her waist to indicate the spinning dress or skirt, or she takes my hands and starts to dance in a circle with me, and even lifts her feet to hand from my hands, in the hope that I speed up and she will end up flying around.
Yer *along with finger showing a drawing motion on the other hand* means to draw (LETZAYER n Hebrew) usually in the context of my tablet app.
Other pearls
Lash means milk (CHALAV is Hebrew). This is her favorite drink. She even has a doll in the shape of a milk carton (Tnuva, the main dairy Israeli brand) that has been dubbed "Lash". Recently Lash is slowly disappearing to be replaced by the more mature and exact version Chalaf (only the end is still not exact). We are confident she will say is properly soon, she has use of it often enough.
The repeating syllable examples
Fofon - means cucumber (MELAFEFON in Hebrew) but...
but... HALLO means Telephone (actually my cellular phone)
Zezer mean carrot (GEZER in Hebrew)
Niaiya means tomato (AGVANIA in Hebrew)
Babu or Bu means bottle (BAKBUK in Hebrew)
Sabobon means soap (SABON in Hebrew)
Tata means Grandma (SAVTA in Hebrew)
Mama measn mommy (by now Jasmin says the proper word in Hebrew IMMA)
Body language
Wiyoo means to spin (I should lift her and spin or she makes her skirt fly during a spin), to show me which of the two options she refers to she either turns her waist to indicate the spinning dress or skirt, or she takes my hands and starts to dance in a circle with me, and even lifts her feet to hand from my hands, in the hope that I speed up and she will end up flying around.
Yer *along with finger showing a drawing motion on the other hand* means to draw (LETZAYER n Hebrew) usually in the context of my tablet app.
Other pearls
Lash means milk (CHALAV is Hebrew). This is her favorite drink. She even has a doll in the shape of a milk carton (Tnuva, the main dairy Israeli brand) that has been dubbed "Lash". Recently Lash is slowly disappearing to be replaced by the more mature and exact version Chalaf (only the end is still not exact). We are confident she will say is properly soon, she has use of it often enough.
The tone makes the music...Der Ton Macht der Musik
in German there is a saying "the tone makes the music", it means that the tone one uses when one speaks determines the true meaning of the said words. Jasmin can recognize the tone, but she can not yet always get the music right.
These days my husband is watching the "Mondial" football championship, when he watches a football game, he can get enthusiastic and even screams when a good goal is shot. When Jasmin hears these cries she responds by scolding my husband! waving finger (no no no...) and all, not to mention the correct tone (even though her words are still gibberish at most) - because she thinks he is screaming and one must not raise one's voice...
These days my husband is watching the "Mondial" football championship, when he watches a football game, he can get enthusiastic and even screams when a good goal is shot. When Jasmin hears these cries she responds by scolding my husband! waving finger (no no no...) and all, not to mention the correct tone (even though her words are still gibberish at most) - because she thinks he is screaming and one must not raise one's voice...
Monday, June 9, 2014
Pattern Recognition
Jasmin knows her patterns. she also knows where each design belongs. As she recently demonstrated with a very vigilant comment about my new glasses.
As a homage to my husband, and admittedly maybe as a bit of a joke, I has eye glasses made in a similar pattern to the ones my husband usually wears. My husband is a stickler about his glasses and his favorite pattern of frame is a 1980's RayBan look with a half frame in thick black on the top and thin gold at the bottom.
When I first met my husband, I used to hate the glasses.I thought they were old fashioned and ugly. I have gotten used to them on him by now. The glasses were always an issue between us because he had the frame he was wearing a good 20 years and could not find a replacement in the first few years of our acquaintance and marriage. In addition, he finally lost them one night (close to Jonathan;s birth) after a long night watching a football match... In recent years RayBan decided to bring the pattern back and finally my husband got to replace his long lost pair.
As this pattern returned to the shops, it was also made in different sizes and thus became also available to women. It soon became obvious to my husband and to me that we could finally find this pattern not only in his extra large head size (14" glasses) but also in my miniature head width. and so, I had a pair of glasses made in homage to my husbands taste. I do not wear them often because of two reasons:
1 - because of the thick top black frame, they hurt my ears.
2 - despite the small size, I still think they are too big for me
my husband thinks I look really cool with them, creative and stylish. I can tolerate them only when I have really big hair (to compensate for the narrow width of my head and the large size of the lenses).
The serve thus as my replacement pair of glasses when the main ones I have need to be repaired.
Yesterday, I had to give my regular glasses for repair. I put the alternative homage glasses on. Jasmin noticed the change immediately. She demanded to know what is going on by asking MA ZE? ("what is this" in Hebrew). I explained that mommy has new glasses. Jasmin answered immediately - NO, it's daddy's (LO, ZE ABBA in Hebrew) indicating that she is used to seeing such glasses on my husbands nose...
It is a pity one cannot demonstrate the tone of voice she used when making these tow short declarations, the music of Jasmin's speech is adorable in general and amazingly perceptive and imitating of her surroundings.
This time her tones indicated surprise and even protest. After all mommy should not be wearing daddy's glasses, everything has its place. Order must be kept (in German the saying goes ORDNUNG MUSS SEIN and its a staple of the German culture!).
I thought that her remark was an indicator if great wisdom...but we know she is really smart and worldly...
As a homage to my husband, and admittedly maybe as a bit of a joke, I has eye glasses made in a similar pattern to the ones my husband usually wears. My husband is a stickler about his glasses and his favorite pattern of frame is a 1980's RayBan look with a half frame in thick black on the top and thin gold at the bottom.
When I first met my husband, I used to hate the glasses.I thought they were old fashioned and ugly. I have gotten used to them on him by now. The glasses were always an issue between us because he had the frame he was wearing a good 20 years and could not find a replacement in the first few years of our acquaintance and marriage. In addition, he finally lost them one night (close to Jonathan;s birth) after a long night watching a football match... In recent years RayBan decided to bring the pattern back and finally my husband got to replace his long lost pair.
As this pattern returned to the shops, it was also made in different sizes and thus became also available to women. It soon became obvious to my husband and to me that we could finally find this pattern not only in his extra large head size (14" glasses) but also in my miniature head width. and so, I had a pair of glasses made in homage to my husbands taste. I do not wear them often because of two reasons:
1 - because of the thick top black frame, they hurt my ears.
2 - despite the small size, I still think they are too big for me
my husband thinks I look really cool with them, creative and stylish. I can tolerate them only when I have really big hair (to compensate for the narrow width of my head and the large size of the lenses).
The serve thus as my replacement pair of glasses when the main ones I have need to be repaired.
Yesterday, I had to give my regular glasses for repair. I put the alternative homage glasses on. Jasmin noticed the change immediately. She demanded to know what is going on by asking MA ZE? ("what is this" in Hebrew). I explained that mommy has new glasses. Jasmin answered immediately - NO, it's daddy's (LO, ZE ABBA in Hebrew) indicating that she is used to seeing such glasses on my husbands nose...
It is a pity one cannot demonstrate the tone of voice she used when making these tow short declarations, the music of Jasmin's speech is adorable in general and amazingly perceptive and imitating of her surroundings.
This time her tones indicated surprise and even protest. After all mommy should not be wearing daddy's glasses, everything has its place. Order must be kept (in German the saying goes ORDNUNG MUSS SEIN and its a staple of the German culture!).
I thought that her remark was an indicator if great wisdom...but we know she is really smart and worldly...
Notes for Blogging
I am changing my workplace and have to return the cell phone. here is what I fished out of the s memo app. my notes for the children blogs.
יסמין עושה פיפי בשירותים בתוך התחתונים. צעד בכיוון הנכון.
חוויות גמילה. יסמין לא אוהבת חיתול עם קקי ומפה הכל התחיל.... לאחר שמרחה עצמה פעמיים בגן הוחלט פה אחד להתחיל בגמילה גם אם היא רק בת שנתיים וחודש...
עושה קקי בעמידה ואומרת קקי אבל לא הולכת לשירותים . שאלתי אותה אם תלך פעם הבאה והיא אמרה "לא" החלטי.
יסמין עושה קקי במרפסת וקוראת לי לנקות. אמרתי שתבוא אלי לשירותים לפני שזה קורה אז בפעם הבאה עשר דקות אחר כך היא באה תוך כדי לקרוא לי...והמבין יבין. שאריות אחריה בכל הבית...
יסמין עושה פיפי בשירותים בתוך התחתונים. צעד בכיוון הנכון.
יסמין עושה בסיר כמו שצריך...חמש דקות אחר כך מפספת...
יסמין מצליחה להזהיר מפני הפיפי שבא בקניון ומספיקים לשירותים ואז בבית היא דוקא מפספת איפה שנח...
חוויות גמילה. יסמין לא אוהבת חיתול עם קקי ומפה הכל התחיל.... לאחר שמרחה עצמה פעמיים בגן הוחלט פה אחד להתחיל בגמילה גם אם היא רק בת שנתיים וחודש...
יסמין עוזרת כל פעם שאני מחזיקה מגב או מטאטא. היא צריכה גם... כרגיל.
כל מה שאני עושה או מחזיקה ביד או אוכלת, גם יסמין רוצה. כל מה שיונתן מחזיק או עושה, יסמין רוצה גם.
יסמין יושבת במגלשה בגינה. מושיטה יד לעומר (בן דוד) שיבוא לעזור. הוא בא. מחזיק לה היד והיא גולשת.
הם בכלל משחקים מקסים ביחד. המון צחוקים וחיבוקים ונישוקים. יש בינהם כולה 9 חודשים הפרש. מקסימים ומתוקים...
יסמין עוזרת לי לסחוב שקיות הביתה. לוקחת את החלב ויודעת שזה בשביל אבא.
עושה קקי בעמידה ואומרת קקי אבל לא הולכת לשירותים . שאלתי אותה אם תלך פעם הבאה והיא אמרה "לא" החלטי.
מזל שליסמין יש קקי מוצק, גם אם היא מפספסת בתחתונים זה לא בורח למכנסיים ברב הפעמים וקל מאוד לנקות את זה...
יסמין בהופעה.שרה לתלמידים של לוץ "קקי צא" ונהנית מתשומת הלב.
יסמין בהופעה.שרה לתלמידים של לוץ "קקי צא" ונהנית מתשומת הלב.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Jasmin knows it all
More often than not, I am surprised by Jasmin's ability to understand the world around her. she simply and truly knows it all! Here are a few quaint examples:
Blowing her nose: Even though Jasmin is just two years of age, she can fully blow her nose. She also knows to get toilet paper for the purpose of doing so. If he hears me or someone else sneeze, she will hurry to the restroom and bring with her a piece of toilet paper, so that the person who has sneezed can blow their nose. after the paper has been used, Jasmin always says "Pach!" the Hebrew word for wastepaper basket - she expects that the used paper will be tossed to the trash.
Taking her medicine: Jasmin does not like to take medicine and its always a fight. Even so, recently when she needed to take antibiotics, although she fought me every step of the way, she instructed her grandmother (my mom) in my absence, when and how to administer the medicine. She showed my mother the pipette and the medicine bottle and willingly tipped her head back to swallow the liquid. After that, I negotiated with her new terms for taking medicine - by mixing it with water and serving it as a drink. Jasmin even asked to get medicine once and was angry when I refused. I has to explain that medicine is only served when needed, even if it is a yummy syrup with strawberry taste... Despite these advancements, Jasmin still does not really like to take her medicine...
Jasmin the copycat: Jasmin has recently taken to copying anything her older brother does. If he is hanging on my leg, she will immediately do so after him. He has taken to sitting under the table in my study, and has made a small house for himself there, with his toys, she now also goes to sit there. She has learned to climb my back because her brother likes to do so, but she has improved on him and is now also jumping up and down , insisting that I play "horse" and give her a piggyback ride in the process. She has even agreed to sit on my shoulders (though she does not usually like to do so and prefers walking or being carried in my arms) when noting that Jonathan was similarly riding on his fathers shoulders.
Logistics and operation: Jasmin knows to open the door for me if she sees me holding a garbage bag. Jasmin knows to put on shoes before leaving the house and taking off shoes when remaining indoors, Like her brother (when he was smaller) she insists that anyone who comes to our home take off their shoes as a sign that this person intends to stay, taking my boots off for me when I arrive from work (and before I play with her) is by now a routine ceremony. She is slowly learning to operate the DVD and CD player. She especially enjoys playing music and dancing with any willing participant.
Turning on the light: Jasmin can stand on a stool and switch in the light in the bathroom or toilet or her own room before she enters the room.
Hygiene: Jasmin has learned to brush her front teeth nicely from side to side. she knows we brush our teeth mornings and evenings and always insists that mommy brush along with Jasmin. In general she wants to join in on any activity, and she wants people to join her in whatever she is doing (the word GAM , which means also in Hebrew is a staple with Jasmin - its means she wants to also do something or that someone else should also be doing it)
Jasmin by now can report exactly when she has a wet diaper. She says "pipi" when its wet. she sometimes asks to be seated on the toilet, but only one time has she peed in it. Most times she asks to be seated after she has already "done the deed" in her diaper. She can also report solids - and has even brought a new diaper and wipes, asking me to change her diaper saying "poo poo" indicating the content of the used diaper and the relief she seeks me to provide. She knows exactly where she can find diapers in wipes in our home or the home of her grandparents. Its is obvious that Jasmin likes having a clean diaper. Jasmin can also answer correctly if I ask to know if she has anything in her diaper. I have learned to trust her to answer correctly. We are confident that in the summer, when she is 2.5 years old, we will be able to successfully ween her from diapers.
Blowing her nose: Even though Jasmin is just two years of age, she can fully blow her nose. She also knows to get toilet paper for the purpose of doing so. If he hears me or someone else sneeze, she will hurry to the restroom and bring with her a piece of toilet paper, so that the person who has sneezed can blow their nose. after the paper has been used, Jasmin always says "Pach!" the Hebrew word for wastepaper basket - she expects that the used paper will be tossed to the trash.
Taking her medicine: Jasmin does not like to take medicine and its always a fight. Even so, recently when she needed to take antibiotics, although she fought me every step of the way, she instructed her grandmother (my mom) in my absence, when and how to administer the medicine. She showed my mother the pipette and the medicine bottle and willingly tipped her head back to swallow the liquid. After that, I negotiated with her new terms for taking medicine - by mixing it with water and serving it as a drink. Jasmin even asked to get medicine once and was angry when I refused. I has to explain that medicine is only served when needed, even if it is a yummy syrup with strawberry taste... Despite these advancements, Jasmin still does not really like to take her medicine...
Jasmin the copycat: Jasmin has recently taken to copying anything her older brother does. If he is hanging on my leg, she will immediately do so after him. He has taken to sitting under the table in my study, and has made a small house for himself there, with his toys, she now also goes to sit there. She has learned to climb my back because her brother likes to do so, but she has improved on him and is now also jumping up and down , insisting that I play "horse" and give her a piggyback ride in the process. She has even agreed to sit on my shoulders (though she does not usually like to do so and prefers walking or being carried in my arms) when noting that Jonathan was similarly riding on his fathers shoulders.
A rare full family portrait
Logistics and operation: Jasmin knows to open the door for me if she sees me holding a garbage bag. Jasmin knows to put on shoes before leaving the house and taking off shoes when remaining indoors, Like her brother (when he was smaller) she insists that anyone who comes to our home take off their shoes as a sign that this person intends to stay, taking my boots off for me when I arrive from work (and before I play with her) is by now a routine ceremony. She is slowly learning to operate the DVD and CD player. She especially enjoys playing music and dancing with any willing participant.
Turning on the light: Jasmin can stand on a stool and switch in the light in the bathroom or toilet or her own room before she enters the room.
Hygiene: Jasmin has learned to brush her front teeth nicely from side to side. she knows we brush our teeth mornings and evenings and always insists that mommy brush along with Jasmin. In general she wants to join in on any activity, and she wants people to join her in whatever she is doing (the word GAM , which means also in Hebrew is a staple with Jasmin - its means she wants to also do something or that someone else should also be doing it)
Jasmin by now can report exactly when she has a wet diaper. She says "pipi" when its wet. she sometimes asks to be seated on the toilet, but only one time has she peed in it. Most times she asks to be seated after she has already "done the deed" in her diaper. She can also report solids - and has even brought a new diaper and wipes, asking me to change her diaper saying "poo poo" indicating the content of the used diaper and the relief she seeks me to provide. She knows exactly where she can find diapers in wipes in our home or the home of her grandparents. Its is obvious that Jasmin likes having a clean diaper. Jasmin can also answer correctly if I ask to know if she has anything in her diaper. I have learned to trust her to answer correctly. We are confident that in the summer, when she is 2.5 years old, we will be able to successfully ween her from diapers.
Jasmin the almighty cook
There is nothing Jasmin loves more that to play "kitchen". It is her favorite game, no matter where she is. Jasmin just likes to serve food, and she does it whenever and wherever she can, serving a verity of items.
At home she is always taking out all the pots and pans from her kitchen crate. She places the small plastic tools in all the esoteric corners of the house and serves and mixes and cooks in them to her hearts content. I find myself scooping the plastic tools from any number of nooks and crannies. Jasmin likes to serve any verity of toys as food (not necessarily food like items, which she has in abundance in her kitchen set) , but she does not insist that we play at eating the food she serves. One time she took Jonathan's "angry birds" collection (pencil tip figurines of the famous bird characters) and fried them in a plastic pan, stirring away for a full ten minutes. She also likes to eat real food with her play plates and cups. Especially drinking milk of juice using a small plastic cup is a favorite. Jasmin has learned that when one is finishes a meal (for real), we put the plates and glasses away in the sink in the kitchen, hence I often find her play set items in there as well.
Wherever Jasmin goes, she zooms in on the kitchen set. In her own kindergarten, I often find her playing cook when I come to pick her up. When she accompanies me to Jonathan's kindergarten, she runs directly to the kitchen playing corner in his kindergarten as well. She has very quickly learned exactly where this is located in the rather large facility. When she is visiting her grandparents, she also has a kitchen corner there too. Even when taking as bath, she enjoys playing with her plastic kitchen set. pouring water form the various cups. In fact, she enjoys serving "food" to all members of the family, no matter where they are - including the toilet...
Jasmin never forgets the spoon! Whether she is eating for real or serving play food in her plastic kitchen, there is always a teaspoon to be had. Jasmin can by now stand on a small stool and take a spoon out of the kitchen drawer by herself! She is always asking for a spoon when she comes to ask for food or a snack. She selects her favorite spoons - she likes real metal spoons (plastic will no longer do) with special children motifs. Luckily her German grandmother has indeed provided such metal sets with cute animals on the edge of the cutlery handle.
If Jasmin knows that dinner is about to be served, she will happily set about to setting the table, taking plates and cups and cutlery from the lower drawers, in which I purposely placed plates and cups for the kids, within there reach. she does this however, only for real and no as a game. Jasmin may also try to invite Jonathan to join her in a meal. She will then take two portions (for example two cups of pudding) and set a portion aside for Jonathan as well. she then will insist that he eat - even if he is not interested! Jasmin can be very pervasive...
It is interesting to see however, that Jasmin is not particularly interested in the real kitchen. After a short period in which she emptied out the drawers with the plastic plates and cups in our kitchen, she has lost interest in it. Jasmin (unlike Jonathan when he was smaller) has no compulsion to drum on my pots and pans and no need to empty every drawer and cupboards in my kitchen. When she is hungry or thirsty, she know to demand and to show me what she needs, even opening cabinets or asking me to open the fridge in the process, looking for whatever her heart fancies. But her interest in the real kitchen remains a functional one - she comes there when she wants to eat!
Considering her ability to understand the way things function and her interest in the theme of kitchen, food and cooking, I often wonder if Jasmin will turn out to be a good partner to real cooking and baking when she is a bit older...(Jonathan always loses interest after a minute or so). I must wait patiently for my answer. Only time will tell...
At home she is always taking out all the pots and pans from her kitchen crate. She places the small plastic tools in all the esoteric corners of the house and serves and mixes and cooks in them to her hearts content. I find myself scooping the plastic tools from any number of nooks and crannies. Jasmin likes to serve any verity of toys as food (not necessarily food like items, which she has in abundance in her kitchen set) , but she does not insist that we play at eating the food she serves. One time she took Jonathan's "angry birds" collection (pencil tip figurines of the famous bird characters) and fried them in a plastic pan, stirring away for a full ten minutes. She also likes to eat real food with her play plates and cups. Especially drinking milk of juice using a small plastic cup is a favorite. Jasmin has learned that when one is finishes a meal (for real), we put the plates and glasses away in the sink in the kitchen, hence I often find her play set items in there as well.
Wherever Jasmin goes, she zooms in on the kitchen set. In her own kindergarten, I often find her playing cook when I come to pick her up. When she accompanies me to Jonathan's kindergarten, she runs directly to the kitchen playing corner in his kindergarten as well. She has very quickly learned exactly where this is located in the rather large facility. When she is visiting her grandparents, she also has a kitchen corner there too. Even when taking as bath, she enjoys playing with her plastic kitchen set. pouring water form the various cups. In fact, she enjoys serving "food" to all members of the family, no matter where they are - including the toilet...
Jasmin never forgets the spoon! Whether she is eating for real or serving play food in her plastic kitchen, there is always a teaspoon to be had. Jasmin can by now stand on a small stool and take a spoon out of the kitchen drawer by herself! She is always asking for a spoon when she comes to ask for food or a snack. She selects her favorite spoons - she likes real metal spoons (plastic will no longer do) with special children motifs. Luckily her German grandmother has indeed provided such metal sets with cute animals on the edge of the cutlery handle.
If Jasmin knows that dinner is about to be served, she will happily set about to setting the table, taking plates and cups and cutlery from the lower drawers, in which I purposely placed plates and cups for the kids, within there reach. she does this however, only for real and no as a game. Jasmin may also try to invite Jonathan to join her in a meal. She will then take two portions (for example two cups of pudding) and set a portion aside for Jonathan as well. she then will insist that he eat - even if he is not interested! Jasmin can be very pervasive...
It is interesting to see however, that Jasmin is not particularly interested in the real kitchen. After a short period in which she emptied out the drawers with the plastic plates and cups in our kitchen, she has lost interest in it. Jasmin (unlike Jonathan when he was smaller) has no compulsion to drum on my pots and pans and no need to empty every drawer and cupboards in my kitchen. When she is hungry or thirsty, she know to demand and to show me what she needs, even opening cabinets or asking me to open the fridge in the process, looking for whatever her heart fancies. But her interest in the real kitchen remains a functional one - she comes there when she wants to eat!
Considering her ability to understand the way things function and her interest in the theme of kitchen, food and cooking, I often wonder if Jasmin will turn out to be a good partner to real cooking and baking when she is a bit older...(Jonathan always loses interest after a minute or so). I must wait patiently for my answer. Only time will tell...
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