Semantics

In her continued quest for autonomy, Abby has decided that she should have some say over what she answers to. She's okay with Abs, Curly, Abstinator, Greasy, Abby Jean and Cutie, but I have recently learned that there is one nickname to which she will no longer answer.

There was a foul stench permeating the playroom, and the usual suspect was once again surely at fault. Turning to my odiferous daughter, I asked a question with which she is all too familiar.

"Abby," I asked politely, "are you stinky?"

"No!" came her hasty reply.

Knowing she most certainly was stinky, I asked again, "Abby, are you stinky?"

"No!" she replied with utmost confidence.

This child knows when she's stinky, and is usually pretty quick to admit it and race toward her room for a diaper change. Her lying was beginning to confuse and annoy me at this point.

"Abby," I said, a little more firmly this time, "are you stinky?"

"No!" she answered, echoing my firmness. "I Abby!"

I guess I'll be rephrasing that question from now on.