Too much information

While we were eating birthday cake last night, Katie noticed that Matthew was holding his fork in his right fist. Rather than immediately correcting his hold, she gently sought information.

"Matthew," she asked, "Do you know how to hold a pencil?"

"Yes," replied our preschooler, "I hold it like this (holding his left hand up in a fist)."

There was a brief pause, and I wondered how Katie would respond.

Instead Matthew continued, "Except when it's my snake tongue. Then I put it in my mouth and wiggle it with my teeth."