8am, my niece on my lap. My goal this morning: teach her a new word.

She points to her toy rabbit. “Rabbit,” I say. No response.

She points to the tissue box. “Tissue,” I say. No response.

She points to me. “Eric,” I say, with more enthusiasm. “Uncle Eric”. Still, no response.

She points to the clock. “Clock,” I say, beginning to lose hope. And then, from her tiny larynx:

“Clock”!

I laugh and clap in amazement, until she says it again. And I realise she cannot pronounce the letter L.

“No no, cLock”, I repeat, emphasising the critical letter. But it is useless: she chants her newly learnt word over and over again, giggling to no end.

I have succeeded in the worst way.