Recently we had load shedding and it worked out that the electricity was off at bath time. Eli’s about to start brushing his teeth when he says, “‘Tricity off, no turn toothbrush on.” I say to him, “Eli, the electricity doesn’t have to be on for your toothbrush to work, it’s battery operated.” He doesn’t seem convinced, so I say to him, “Just push the button and brush your teeth.”

He seems okay with that, pushes the “button” and gets on with brushing his teeth. The only problem is that he has a manual toothbrush, there is no battery and his “button” is a round part moulded into the handle….and I’m talking to him like it’s all real.