<!--Paul Lane--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Paul Lane</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:lanep@gnnewspaper.com">lanep@gnnewspaper.com<br /></a></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.niagara-gazette.com/blogs">Click for Blog</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
Color me tickled pink that our daughter has apparently opted to follow in her father’s journalistic footsteps.
What with the copious quantity of questions Penny’s asked of late, I’m not sure that any other career path would seem so fitting. Consider this recent early morning exchange:
(Bella, our dog, barks, prompting Penny to run toward the window)
Penny — “Who’s coming over?”
Me — “Marme.”
“Marme? What’s she doing?”
“She’s coming over, sweetheart.”
“Where’s she going?”
“Here.”
“To Penny’s house? Oh ... When’s she coming over?”
“Soon, sweetie. Very soon.”
“Why’s she coming over?”
“To see Penny and Rigby.”
“Oh ... How?”
“She’s driving, sweetie.”
“In a car?”
“Yes.”
“Oh ... Marme’s coming over soon?”
The conversation may be paraphrased (only slightly), but Penny really has the interrogative nature of a reporter perfected (she even will ask the same question three or four — or 10 — times in a row, just to confirm that she heard correctly).
Penny, of course, is just behaving like a 2-year-old as opposed to a reporter-in-training. But it’s still fun (if you can keep coming up with answers to the “how” question) to see her curiosity blossom.
That being said, there are some times (when we’re getting our coats on to go somewhere) that questions are better than other times (when Daddy’s going to the bathroom). And using questions as a diversionary tactic, such as asking why she has to pick up her toys, can become a minor annoyance.
But even if she’s asking to “see Rigby” (which entails holding him up so that their faces align, followed by her grabbing him more tightly than a linebacker and kissing him) five times while you’re trying to feed him breakfast, Penny’s penchant for inquiry should be encouraged.
I love the fact that Penny’s figuring out that there’s more to the world than just what’s in front of her (famous last words, I know). I also enjoy seeing Penny interpret what’s presented to her (such as when I responded to her question with a “Yes, ma’am,” which compelled her to say “I’m not ma’am. I’m only Penny”).
So, no matter how many times I need to repeat that we’re going shopping, I will continue to answer Penny’s questions with cheer (as much cheer as can be mustered, at least). She just wants to know about the world around her, so I should be happy to help.
And if she happens to want to follow in my footsteps, well, I guess that would be OK, too — if you twist my arm.
•••
Rigby’s birthday went quite well. A pizza and arcade lunch was followed by cake with family members on his actual birthday two weeks ago, while dozens more family members came to the party we threw for him last weekend.
After bringing his haul into the house, I can only hope we find the floor of the kids’ playroom by his next birthday.
Contact Paul Laneat 693-1000, ext. 116,or paul.lane@gnnewspaper.com.
