More Than Words

I've been reading a lot lately about the importance of helping your child develop language skills at an early age. As an editor and writer, I'm all about exposing my daughter to language in any way possible. Luckily, I've got two baskets full of informative, gripping children's books in the nursery. Let the learning begin!

Mom: OK, Baby, let's read this fascinating book called That's Not My Tractor!
Baby (Grabs book and throws it across the room): Ba ba ba ba.

Mom: No problem! (Picking up another book) This one is called The Wheels on the Bus. Let's give it a try.
Baby grabs book and begins chewing on it furiously.

Mom: How about this one? It looks really interesting. It's called I Love Sheep.
Baby: Thank you, mother, for your attempts to expose me to language and develop my linguistic abilities at such an early age. While I am not yet fully able to communicate my gratitude verbally, please interpret my pulling your hair and throwing my sippy cup on the floor as signs of my utmost appreciation for these early lessons.
Mom: You're welcome, I'm so glad we can have these special mother-daughter moments...
Baby (ripping pages out of book and throwing them like confetti): DA DA!

You know, I'm starting to think this language thing is overrated...