We're on to this fake crying - mry g-randdaught-cr a& sI3 oii l'm learning a new language. You won't find it any books, and you can't leam it in a classioom, but believe me it exisîs because I bear it every day. It's a step or two ahead of baby talk because it's intended to make sense, and te, my granddaugbter I tbinik it does. Oh. it's easy enougb to, understand. For example. when she says "num num" it means she wants sometbing to eat or sees sometbing to eat. But wben she comes out with an extend- etI sentence, spoken svith complete sinceri- ty, and then waits patiently for îny answer I don't know how to, respond. 1 feel as if l'm the one with the language prohlem s0 1 just say: "Nom nums?" And she says "yesh" and that's that. 1 thought perhaps before she was bons that I could dictate svhat 1 would be called. Something dignified ihat wouldn't indicate that I was old enoogh to be a grandfather. It hasn't worked out that way. She calîs me Pop Pop. I don't know how. when or why she came up with that, but I am Pop Pop. maybe forever. One of my kids called their grandf .ather "Grumpy" and that stock. so 1 don't kîîow if there's anything 1 can do about this. There could be worse names than Pop Pop, I guess. She could have called me Dopey or Greedy Guy Who Eats the Num Nums Before Me. There's no problem understanding my granddaughter with ber animal sounds. 1 ask what the dog says and she replies, "Woof Woof." 1 ask what the mnonkey says and she goes "Ooo Ooo." and if 1 ask what the duck says. she goes. "Qoack Quack." l'm currentty working on a new one. What does Auntie say?! "Bla bla bla." lIts coming along. For some reason. she's good with ber "B' words. She says baby, bye bye, bail and babba very clearly. Bahba is ber bottle or cup. And she cao say "Momimy" like nobody's business, probably because site bas so much practice at it. Mostly she gets along with crie or two word requests. because she's smart enough to know that we're 001 smart enough 10 understand ber long sentences. She doesn't appear exasperated or act like we're idiots, which is kind of ber. She patiently takes your hand and takes you where she wants to go. She's also smari enough to know what crying cao do for ber. And she's confident enough in that tactic that she resorts to fake crying quite frequently. That's something that cao work for you for an entire lifetime, but we're catching on. Fool me once. shame on you. fool me two, three. four times. shame on me. Besides. I know a trick for that. I used it with my own kids. When a young one cries you start wbisper- ing somethitsg. That makes them stop cry- ing so thai they hear what you're saying. Pretty simart eh'? People olien try 10 talk to little ones in their osvn language. We speak slosvly loudly and exaggerated. ht seeins kind of' odd 10 try 10 speak in their language %when they're trying to leam yours, but it 1s what 55e do. I try to avoid ii, but I catch myself' sometimes andI revers to normal ialk . My real prohlcmr is that 110w I use the language without even realizing it. 1 go through the drive-tbru and after they ask what I want my ftrst inclination is to say: "Pop Pop want num noms." Math cao be fun, andI the Milton Community Resource Centre is offering a program to prove il. Registrations are now being accepted for the Centre's Family Time Math prograns, which begins April t. Parents and their kids aged three 10 five are invited to partie- ipate in enjoyable math-related activities once each week for six weeks. Parents will learo strategies to assist their children with mathematical thinking, and kids svill have a chance lu explore math in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. For more information or te, register, caîl the Milton Community Resource Centre aI (906) 876-1244, extl. 15. IASIIeEALL Season runs May 1 - Oct. Wed. & Sunday nights @8:3Opm at Brookville Park - Guelph Line 2 minutes north of Mohawk Siots $150. includes 2 year end banquet tickets REGSTATIO gaudy Marc 19 - 'g f f Moaw Inn 40 & Capel- OR CALL BRIAN JOHN 905-854-0293 905-854-0755 PAUL 905-876-1851 The Canadian Champion, Fridsy, March 18, 2005-11 ,-Mi1ton-area Girl p --i ý, î . , Local Girl Guides recently marked the 95th anniversary of guiding in Canada and World Thinking Day by recognizing girls boni on tIhe occasion. Little Lois Trnity Chan of Milton was one of thse babiles bons Febs'ory 22 who received a certificate that will entitle ber to a free one-year membership in Girl Guides of Canada in 2010 - the year that she'll be five years old and eligible for memberabip. There were alao two recipients in Oakville. Thse certificates were presented by a member of thse Girl Guides, White Oaka area, which eneonpsasses Brampton, Missiasauga, Georgetown, Milton andI OskviUe. GERETW VE I & LA E CO CIN Dr. Henry Lou. M.D. *Laser Hair Removal *Laser Vein Removal *Photo Skin Rejuvenat ion *Laser Pigmented Lesion Removal *Medical Microdermabrasion *Acne Treaitment & Prevent ion -FDA Approved Laser for Men & Women 0 This Coupon ib r One FREE case of Spring Water!!! 1t ahnwcustomer based on 12 month agreement (O.A.C.)I 1 YES! we delivery I NO! additional delivery fee pl NO! minimum quantities per delivery case of 24 C500m1 bottles is LAMBO)j)ONLY $5.45 F a vB R PIG deliverd 1 1 -888-829-30200 L grade Your Ski GRAN OPEMNG SPECIAL.. $30 OFF YOUR FIRST ViSiT Men gou book onlbg March 26, 2005. Refreshments wili lie served. NOW OFFERING... Massage therapy with Peter Broiser R.. Kate Rh B.Ac. Nw Pa eaume N.D. Km"et Batena Peter Broser B.Sc. NI). RMT 33 Mai Stet u,'âo Is For the workplace For college or uni versity For yourself I ndividualized Learning with teacher support *Open Days as well as Tues bo Thurs evenings * Fexible Hours *Earn your High Sohool Diploma GARY ALLAN HIGH SCHOOL1 Adidi. AIt,'rative anîd('omiifsiiit Fduc<uuot)y 215 Ontario Street South, Milton http://ga.hdsb.ca To Register Cai: 905-878-2244 Math program available for parents and children