Maybe she just doesn't like it when I go sharp

There is a sort of gray area, I've found, between rudeness and cuteness, poor manners and respect.

Actually, it isn't that hard to discern - rather, it's just that sometimes some of the rudeness that comes out of Savannah's mouth is so funny.

And then once I make the mistake of laughing at her, she thinks it's ok to continue. So I let her. Until about the 56th time when it's not so cute anymore, and then I descend upon her with wrath and warnings, and she probably wonders what brought about the change of heart....

We like to sing. We're always humming or making up silly songs or singing tunes from Dora and Trebellina and Strawberry Shortcake.

But on occasion, when I would break out into song on my own, something about it apparently rubbed her the wrong way, because she would say, "Don't sing, don't sing!"

Which was cute and funny and I hahaha'd for the first couple dozen times it happened.

Then it gradually became less funny, and finally one day I just had it.

"Do NOT tell Mama she cannot sing. That is not nice. If you say that again...." And the dire consequences were laid out in no uncertain terms.

The next time I started to sing, I heard her say, "Mama, don't - " she broke off abruptly, and then changed her tune, her tone, her face. "Mama," she said, sweetness oozing out of her, "Go ahead. Go ahead and sing, Mama."

Why, thank you.

And then a couple of days ago, I could tell that "Don't sing, don't sing", was on the tip of her tongue, but she called to remembrance those consequences that surely awaited her, and she said instead, "Mama - enjoy your singing!"