Totally Quotable Arlo: First Sentence Edition

Arlo said his first sentence today. I didn’t hear it. Linette heard it, as did her mother and father. Under normal circumstances, I’d be sad to have missed my son’s first complete sentence, but, since, by all accounts, what he said was a lie, I think I’m OK with it.

Here, from what I’m told, is how it happened… Arlo dropped his grandparents’ television remote into a bucket full of water. Then, looking over his shoulder at his clearly disproving grandparents, he said, “I didn’t do it.”

ArloBeach2

I’m not freaked out about it too much. Sure, it would have probably been better if his first sentence had been, “I love you, father,” or something like that, but it’s not the end of the world that he lied. I can remember when Clementine was about his age, and tore a limb off my favorite little oak tree. She told me that she didn’t know who’d twisted it off. After asking her about it a few times, I remember her saying that the dog might have done it. And, when that didn’t work, she offered up her mother, saying, “Maybe, Mama did it.” And, despite my fears, she seems to be turning out fine.

And, I guess it could have been worse. Arlo could have said, “Yeah, I did it, and I’d do it again.” At least, I figure, he knows what he did was wrong. Sure, he lied instead of apologizing, but maybe that’s a step that kids need to go through. Or, at least that’s what I’m hoping.

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10 Comments

  1. Will
    Posted July 28, 2013 at 1:57 pm | Permalink

    Chip off the old block.

  2. Anonymatt
    Posted July 28, 2013 at 6:27 pm | Permalink

    I’m sure he’ll soon lie to your parents, too.

  3. anonymous
    Posted July 28, 2013 at 7:33 pm | Permalink

    Sounds very Family Circus.

  4. 734
    Posted July 29, 2013 at 8:59 am | Permalink

    Remotes kill. Seriously. Remotes have probably done more to obesify the American public than KFC and McDonalds together. I think he may have just saved his grandparents’ lives.

  5. Mr. Y
    Posted July 29, 2013 at 10:47 am | Permalink

    He’s actually right. He didn’t do it. Gravity did. All he did was let go of it over water.

  6. double anonymous
    Posted July 29, 2013 at 3:46 pm | Permalink

    Chip off the old block, indeed. He’ll be smashing TVs by the time he’s three.

  7. Posted July 29, 2013 at 4:42 pm | Permalink

    Two things:

    1) That is the best first sentence ever.

    2) I think your kids have been running around outside my house upon occasion this summer. (I believe my upstairs neighbor cares for them.)

    -Sara (AKA, “Not A Creeper, Just Lives In a Small Town”)

  8. Oliva
    Posted July 29, 2013 at 8:20 pm | Permalink

    Mr. Y’s comment just reminded me of a time before Arlo was born when Clementine was in the backseat with Sena and asked why he kept dropping his cup (she’d keep getting it off the floor for him). With a honeyed voice of nicest motherhood, Linette said, “Remember what you’ve been learning about gravity at school? He just wants to learn about gravity too.” Sena was just about Arlo’s age . . .

  9. Laura
    Posted July 29, 2013 at 9:13 pm | Permalink

    I would have been much happier with, Yeah I did it. What do you plan on doing about it? But I guess denial is not too bad. We have time to work on him.

  10. Jim
    Posted July 30, 2013 at 7:48 am | Permalink

    What he meant was, “Please don’t stop loving me.” He can learn to feel guilt and shame when he’s older.

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