She's 3

Elise has started responding to my requests with, "I'm too busy." Yesterday I told her that she cannot say that she is "too busy". She looked absolutely puzzled. Then I heard her say to herself, "but I can say that. That's not true."

Note to self: When talking to a very literal preschooler, don't say "can't" when you really mean "shouldn't".

I tried to apply this lesson and be aware of her literal interpretation of "can" and "can't" in the following conversation today, but I don't think it turned out any better.

Setting: Elise and I playing with blocks and trains.

Elise: "Mommy, you can build a garage for the train."
Me: "Well, I can build a garage, but I don't really want to right now. You can build a garage if you want to."
Elise: "No Mommy, I can't build a garage, you can build a garage."
Me: "Sweetie, I'm building tracks, you can build a garage if you want to."
Elise looked at me and sighed. She then pointed down to her shirt.

Elise: "Mommy I can't build a garage, I still live with my parents!"


Another quote from our blocks/trains session:
Elise: "You are impressive building a train Mommy."

I may be impressive building trains, and I really can build a train garage, but I am still trying to catch up with our budding three year old.