These are some of the things Daniel came out with as a young child. I am so glad that I kept a record. They encapsulate perfectly his funny, mischievous, bright, competitive personality.
Mum: I’m going to count to ten and then I want you to go in the bath. One, two, three …
Daniel (aged two): I’m not going in, Mummy. Watch my lips
Dad (after Daniel declined to do something): Sometimes you have to do what the other person wants
Daniel (aged four): I know
Dad: Right, well let’s start now
Daniel: No, let’s start another day
Dad (playing snap with Daniel): You have to be a good loser
Daniel (aged four): No, I want to be a good winner
Dad (after Daniel refused to do something): So why won’t you just say you will do it?
Daniel (aged four): My mouth won’t say that
Daniel (playing hide and seek, aged three): Come and find me Daddy. I’m going to hide under the dining room table
Dad: Don’t tell me where you’re going to hide, because I’ll know where to find you
Daniel: But I want you to find me!
Dad: Daniel, it was very rude what you did earlier, wasn’t it?
Daniel (aged four): Right, was there something else you wanted to say or was that it?
Dad: That plane is going to Heathrow.
Daniel (aged four): How do you know?
Dad: Well, Heathrow is very close to here.
Daniel: Well, why are they going by plane if it’s so close?
Dad: Who were Wales playing yesterday?
Daniel (aged four): I don’t know
Dad: England
Daniel: I was going to say England, but I thought I might be wrong
Dad: Well, it doesn’t matter if you might be wrong, you can still say it
Daniel: But I like being right
Dad: Does Mummy get cross when you switch the tele off with your feet?
Daniel (aged four): Yes, but I can handle it.
Dad: So, if there are 3,600 seconds in an hour, and there are 24 hours in a day, how do we work out how many seconds there are in a day?
Daniel (aged five): Easy, use a calculator
Dad: Do you like it when Mummy is on mothers’ duty in school?
Daniel (aged four): No, because I can’t do so many things
Dad: Shall we ring Grandma today?
Daniel (aged three): No
Dad: But she likes speaking to you on the phone
Daniel: Tough
Dad: Do you like parsnips?
Daniel (aged three): No I don’t like them because I’ve never tried them
Daniel (aged three, after waitress in Pizza Hut asked him to repeat something): Bit deaf, isn’t she?
Dad: Sometimes you have to wash your hair, Daniel
Daniel (aged two): Well, sometimes I don’t
Daniel (aged three, to my sister Sian): I’m very well, thank you, before you ask
Daniel (aged three, after Dad kissed him goodnight on the side of his head): One day, I’ll kiss your ear
