That's Amore

I was drawn into the girls’ bedroom the other morning because of an exaggerated wail emanating from my six-year old, the oldest. Tears covering her face, she jumped towards me with great relief as I entered.

“Daddy! Ellie called me a ‘Too Toop!’” she yelled as she blinked out a half dozen teardrops.

I held my breath as I glanced between the two of them. Ellie was sitting on the floor of the room with a sheepish grin and Emma was standing beside her bawling her eyes out.
Annoyed, but still laughing my words I responded, “Do you even know what a ‘Too Toop’ is?”

Wiping her wet cheeks she whined, “NO!”

“Well, then, you shouldn’t get upset about something you don’t even know what it means.” I was really trying to make light of this conflict.

From her sitting spot on the floor, Ellie began to explain in an angelic, informative voice, typically unaccustomed to her, “It is Spanish…”

Both Emma and I whipped our heads towards her cherub face to hear her explanation, “It is Spanish for ‘I Love You.’”