A Couple While….

In an effort to recreate the English language to better suit her needs, Chloe, our two year old has morphed a couple of expressions together to best describe what she wants.

She has heard me say on several occasions, “We can play with the puzzle in a couple minutes,” or, “We’ll have a snack in a little while.”

A couple minutes and a little while (aside from SHHHHHhhhh!!!) are probably the most commonly used responses she hears from Mommy.

And so, “a couple while” was born.

“Mommy, can we go to the park in a couple while?”

“Mommy, can we read some stories on the deck in a couple while?”

“Mommy, can we have Tim-Bits instead of breakfast? In a couple while?”

I even started to re-sing the Kelly Clarkson & Jason Aldean song, “Don’t you wanna stay here a couple while? Don’t you wanna hold each other tight? Don’t you wanna fall asleep with me tonight?”

So last night we went for an evening swim with the family. The girls have been begging to wear bikinis in the pool and aside from the odd, “in a couple while” I’ve been able to steer them towards something that covers well, their entire bodies and half of their faces. I have fair-haired children who burn easily and if Mommy can’t pull off the string bikini, nobody can. Not in my backyard. Not on my floatation device.

Last night, the sun had gone down. I didn’t have the old sun-burn excuse and we were swimming alone so I didn’t worry about how friends or family might perceive a six and eight year old wearing what I consider an entirely inappropriate wardrobe for ring tossing and underwater handstand competitions.

Ellie found her bikini quickly. Too fast in fact. I’m fairly certain she’d been sleeping with it slipped inside her pillow case waiting for the day I let my guard down and agreed to let her wear it.

Hanna searched high and low and came up short. After the initial accusation of sisterly espionage given the rapidity with which Ellie returned dressed (barely dressed) in a bikini and Hanna couldn’t find one anywhere, I agreed to help. Sporting my full scuba-diving wet-suit, we scoured the house.

A disappointed Hanna perked up only when I suggested she could wear one of mine. I figured she would refuse the ridiculous offer but came to realize, the bikini wasn’t about trying to look good, it was about trying to look silly….and silly she did.

She chose a green tankini with breast pads and through the constant giggling, managed to suggest to Ellie that she touch the two “comforters” at the front of the suit. She asked why the bottoms were so “jiggly,” which I found strange given they felt like a pair of Spanx after being in the dryer an hour too long when I wore them.

“Mommy, can I wear a kini? Can I wear a kini-Mommy?”

No Chloe. You are two, we’ll stick with a swimming diaper and swim shirt.

“In a couple while Mommy?”

Maybe in a couple while.

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