As a baby boomer who became a grandma boomer last year when my granddaughter, Skylar, was born, I ask you, What ever happened to pointing?

Pointing up and looking straight at a light fixture is clear in any language. The baby wants to play "light on, light off" - a standard game for babies since Edison harnessed electricity.

A baby will insist you hold her next to the switch plate until your arm is numb. Just try to put her down, and she'll cling to you and push your face up toward the light.

It's easy to guess baby isn't tired of this game yet, or tired at all, because we all know the universal gesture for "baby is sleepy" - when she rubs her eyes with the back of her hand. Or, is it smarter to wait for a cranky baby to sign: "I'm tired, you morons!"?

Recently, right before sign language made the "in" list, everyone was praising Ruby, the 3-year-old who came to the rescue when her mother began to cough uncontrollably and had difficulty breathing. The mother dialed 911 but couldn't speak.

Luckily, Ruby was nearby and saw her mother sign "help," because the child probably wouldn't have noticed her mother clutching her throat and turning blue.

Ruby is a heroine, all right, but that's because her father made sure she knew their address and because she stayed calm as she recited it to the operator.

There are Web sites where parents congratulate each other for having the patience to teach the signs to their babies and brag that their little tot is bilingual. I thought the best part about being a baby is that you can't get it wrong.

My daughter waved bye-bye when she was fearful and wanted something to go away. Her daughter waves a happy greeting to people, the TV and her toys. Trying to understand and then responding to our baby's intentions - isn't that how we get to know each other? Sure, there are misunderstandings, but this is what drives children to learn language.

All I know is that when Skylar crawls over to me and pulls herself up on my legs, if I wait for her to learn the sign for "up," she's going to move on to Grandpa or, worse, the other grandma.

It could be just me, but rather than repeating hand motions to a baby, I'd rather kiss and hold that little hand, and I look forward to the day I will hear "I love you, Grandma." I doubt anyone with a heart would respond, "Now, let me see you sign it."

By Carol Scibelli
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-opsci314492134oct31,0,635751.story