Don't say that!

"Don't say that!" is one of AKA's catch phrases. Besides always telling me and everyone else where to stand, where to walk, and what to say, she also dictates what everyone should NOT say.

It is very annoying. Frustrating. Appalling. And embarrassing, in public.

For example, our morning began with AKA telling me to put the dog outside, although he was still lying on his bed quietly enjoying his morning rawhide. So, I told her:

"No, not yet. He's still having his chewy."

Her response:

"Did you say No?.... Don't say that!"

What followed was my usual futile attempt to explain that I can say "no" when appropriate, she can't tell Mommy what to say, etc., amid her usual stamping of feet and scowling and birthing cow sounds.

Only 15 minutes into the day and already conflict begins.

I can tolerate these episodes better at home. It's worse out in public when the store clerk says, "Did you find everything okay?"

And then I try to talk over AKA and divert attention from her while she lunges at the clerk yelling, "Don't say that!!!" and the clerk is backing away, frightened and perplexed.

BUT...

It is quite amusing when her toys get told.

Like the Dora guitar:

"Muy bien! Fantastico!"
AKA confronts the guitar face to face: "Don't say that!"

And the Elmo phone:

"Zero."
"No, Elmo. Don't say that! Say TEN!" 

Oh yeah, she told 'em.