The Reign of "Disgusting"

My daughter is currently in the throes of a vocabulary revolution, and the reigning words are "saliver" (well, almost) and "disgusting." Every meal feels like a negotiation with a tiny dictator.

Scenario 1: The Forbidden Sip

Me: (Sipping from my drink) Ah, just what I needed.

Daughter: (Eyes widening) Puppy, NO! Don't even THINK about it! That's MY drink and your SALIVER is all over it... DISGUSTING!

Me: (Trying not to laugh) But sweetie, I didn't use your straw. Besides, you can't possibly finish the whole thing... and by the way, it's called saliva, not saliver.

Daughter: (Crossing her arms) Whatever! It's still a DISGUSTING saliva-infused zone!

Scenario 2: The Germaphobe at Play

Daughter: (Blowing a magnificent pink balloon with all her might) Look, Mommy! Isn't it pretty?

(Friend's child approaches, eyes sparkling)

Friend's child: Wow! Can I have a try?

Daughter: (Puffing out her chest) Uh uh! My mommy said we can't mix SALIVERS! It's DISGUSTING!

(Friend's child stares at her balloon in confusion, then slowly backs away)

Scenario 3: The Tail-Wagging Terror

Daughter: (Pointing frantically) Mommy, Mommy! Look! There's a lizard on the wall! Eww, its tail is wiggling! So DISGUSTING!!!

(You peek over and see a harmless little gecko clinging to the wall)

This "saliva" and "disgusting" phase is keeping things interesting, to say the least. Here's hoping her vocabulary expands and the reign of "disgusting" ends soon... or at least gets dethroned by a new word!