Where did you learn that, Tibbons?

As any parent will tell you, toddlers are full of surprises. Just this week Tibbons took me by surprise not once, not twice, but three times with the things he said.

The first was when I was putting on my coat ready to go out and he came up to me and said 'Ready yet?', scrunching up his nose in a way that made it clear that waiting for me was not considered to be a good thing.

I wondered for a moment where he had picked this up. Then I remembered that Daddy-O says it to me frequently - and usually before he's even ready himself.

Next, Tibbons and I were playing with his toy bus; the bus was repeatedly running over animals and people, even when they weren't in its path. It soon became clear that this was so that Tibbons could tell me that they 'Need a dok-tar' - that is, of course, 'need a doctor' for the uninitiated.

I've no idea where he got this from, though I can't fault his logic. Unless it were to point out that an ambulance might be more appropriate - and the police to remove the reckless bus driver from the road.

Finally, Daddy-O, Tibbons and I were mucking about before bed when Tibbons decided that Daddy-O was getting a bit big for his boots and instructed him to go to the corner. As with the dok-tar, we don't know where he's picked this up from and can only guess at nursery (or TV) as it's not something we've ever said.

It's sweet but somehow startling, a reminder that you're not the only influence in your little one's life and that they have their own experiences independently of you even at this young age.

As any parent will tell you, toddlers are full of surprises. Just this week Tibbons took me by surprise not once, not twice, but three times with the things he said.

The first was when I was putting on my coat ready to go out and he came up to me and said 'Ready yet?', scrunching up his nose in a way that made it clear that waiting for me was not considered to be a good thing.

I wondered for a moment where he had picked this up. Then I remembered that Daddy-O says it to me frequently - and usually before he's even ready himself.

Next, Tibbons and I were playing with his toy bus; the bus was repeatedly running over animals and people, even when they weren't in its path. It soon became clear that this was so that Tibbons could tell me that they 'Need a dok-tar' - that is, of course, 'need a doctor' for the uninitiated.

I've no idea where he got this from, though I can't fault his logic. Unless it were to point out that an ambulance might be more appropriate - and the police to remove the reckless bus driver from the road.

Finally, Daddy-O, Tibbons and I were mucking about before bed when Tibbons decided that Daddy-O was getting a bit big for his boots and instructed him to go to the corner. As with the dok-tar, we don't know where he's picked this up from and can only guess at nursery (or TV) as it's not something we've ever said.

It's sweet but somehow startling, a reminder that you're not the only influence in your little one's life and that they have their own experiences independently of you even at this young age.