mama

riding in the car...
clara: mama.
jill: yes?
clara: mamamamamama
jill: (silence)
clara: mama. mamamamamama.
jill: what?
clara: mom. mamamama. (increased pitch)
jill: clara, what?!! please use your words!
clara: mamamamamamamama
jill: (silence while gritting teeth))
clara: can i have a cracker? (high pitched whiny baby voice)
jill: no. we've talked about this! we don't have any snacks left. you've eaten them all already. we're almost home. can't you just sing a song for us?
clara: i want a crackkkeerrr!
jill: clara! you're driving me crazy! can't you please sing a song? how about abcd?
clara: no, i don't wanna sing abcd!
jill: fine, how about twinkle twinkle!
clara: i don't know twinkle.
jill: fine, pick another song.
(silence.)
(silence.)
clara: mom.
jill: (silence)
clara: mom. mamamama.
jill: (silence)
clara: mamamamamamama
jeff: clara, STOP IT!!! USE YOUR WORDS! WHAT DO YOU WANT?! QUIT SAYING YOUR MOM'S NAME OVER AND OVER!!!
(silence)
(silence)
clara: mama. mama. mama. my mommy!
jeff & jill: ERGH!!
clara: mama. mama. mamamamama.
jeff: CLARA! it is NOT NICE to keep saying your mom's name over and over and over! quit it! how would you like it if someone said your name over and over?! claraclaraclaraclaraclaraclaraclaraclaraclaraclara
jill: jeff! i spy with my little eye something green
clara: i don't wanna spy!!
jeff & jill: ERGH!!

i'm not sure we're going to survive much longer. we're trying. but...
clara talks nonstop whenever we're in the car (which thankfully is usually just 15 minutes at a time). we're her captive audience. and usually it's to hear her constantly say mama. mommy. my mommy! the girl has a huge vocabulary. a huge song repertoire. and still she can't seem to get out of her catatonic mama state in the car. oof.