You Know Your Toddler's an Army Brat When...

...she uses "accountability" in a sentence.

For those of you unfamiliar with the military, the word accountability has much the same meaning in the Army as anywhere else, however, it is used frequently, almost obcessively, in Army speak. While used in several contexts, the most common is that of property accountability; each Soldier is assigned property (equipment) from his unit which he is then personally accountable to keep track of. Loss of said property is not to be taken lightly.

DH, a Soldier, can occasionally be overheard telling Olivia that she has to "always maintain accountability of her property;" particularly her "sensitive items." (Sensitive items are those pieces of equipment that are most dangerous when lost, including weapons and communications gear).

Olivia's "sensitive" items are as follows:

• Taggie
• Frizzily (small beanie-type bear)
• Blanket (medium-sized fleece blanket she always sleeps with)

Tonight, as I put Lila to bed in her room, I overheard the tail end of a story in which Olivia was saying to Matt, "...and I didn't know where Frizzily was because his mom didn't keep accountability of him."

DH and I aren't sure who said mother was in this particular story. Her dolls and stuffed animals parents' change from day to day. Matt thinks I was Frizzily's mom tonight, and I think she was saying that she was Frizzily's mom. It doesn't matter. Frizzily is now in good hands; tucked under the arm of one three-year-old, blue-eyed, blonde as she settles in and begins to dream the night away.

Note: Some definitions and background information added by Matt McQuilton (DH).