Pronoun trouble

Isaac's first pronoun was "me," which debuted in February of 2007. He used the word to refer to just about anyone -- himself, yes, but lots of other people as well. By the way, I read in a child development book that kids aren't supposed to refer to themselves as "I" until they're almost three years old, which can't be true -- Isaac has been saying it since September, when he was just two years old. (Not that he uses it with complete accuracy, mind you.) He had a head start, though, since "Ike," which is how he used to refer to himself, sounds so much like "I."

But he still can't get a handle on "me" -- or, by extension, "you." One of his most common phrases is "Mama hug you," which of course means he wants me to hug him. Because of this lingering confusion, I try to use full names when speaking to him. If I ask him, "Who do you want to do it?" and he answers, "Me," I don't know who he's talking about. So I'll ask him, "Do you want Mama or Isaac to do it?"

And, ladies and gentlemen, that's why parents of young children refer to themselves in the third person!

He knows he hasn't figured it out, too. Often he tries to avoid potentially confusing pronouns, just like I do. If he really wants to do something himself, for example, he used to say, "All by self!" I guess using either "myself" or "yourself" would open the situation to interpretation.

However, this past week marks his first successful use of two pronouns in one sentence. He uttered word-perfect that famous childhood phrase: "I want to do it all by myself." Unfortunately for the historical record, I don't remember what "it" was! I think it had something to do with buttering a piece of bread.

- - - - -

Here are some grammar-related quotes of recent days:

Mama: Where are your toothbrushes?

Isaac: There they be. There them is.

- -

Mama: Are you ready to sit on the toilet?

Isaac: I already sat on the toilet. You don't need to do it again.

- -

Isaac: I want to sleep in Mama and Dad bedroom, in the big bed. It's your favorite place.

- - - - -

And for more on "pronoun trouble," see here and here.