actually, it's a bird

it's not what you say, really, but how you say it. my husband is ridiculously tired of hearing those words from me, i'm sure, but it's very important. i am determined to teach my kids early the importance of this concept, and my resolve was strengthened this morning. as we were eating cinnamon rolls for breakfast (noe's reward for using the potty last night after she brushed her teeth), the girls decided that they wanted a side order of cheerios as well. so i put a little on each of on their tray/plate. mali starts it all by calling the cereal bubbles. well, sure...they're round and clear in the middle. i see where she gets that. then noe gets into the game and says that hers are bubbles, too. because she's older and can understand better, i explain "no, honey, they aren't really bubbles. that's cereal." so she looks at me down her little nose and uses this haughty tone that i have no idea where she picked up, and informs me, "actually, it's a bird." she then proceeds to make tweeting noises and makes it fly about. then she bites half of it off and says to me again, "no, it's a bird." poor bird. first, i'm impressed that she can say "actually" and get it right in the context. second, i'm not oblivious to the fact that i have just been insulted by my two year old. no, it's not what she said. it's how she said it. i will not, of course, look to closely at how she picked up the tone she used...though i'm sure daddy has a few ideas, since i'm sure he's heard it several times.