This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
The Three Kinds of Heat
Jul
14
2011
Travel Conversation
For this to make sense, you should know that our kids call my mom “Nanoo” and you should also know that Beta has the bad habit of biting his fingernails. He is always doing that, which means that his fingernails are measured in negative length. It’s bad, and we encourage him to stop.
The Scene: our minivan
We are travelling with the grandparents to a local destination, and Nanoo is riding in the back with Alpha and Beta.
Beta: I’m picking my nose!
Me: Nanoo, you’re in charge of stopping that.
Nanoo: Okay – Beta, don’t do that. Bite your nails instead.
Me: Nanoo, you’re not in charge anymore.
Exploding Stomach
The Scene: Alpha just finished eating a foot-long sub.
Alpha: I feel like exploding
Beta: Okay, explode!
Alpha, waving his arms: Boom!
Beta: No, exploding means throwing up.
You can tell we had just gone through some flu-like symptoms in the family.
The Kinds of Love
The Scene: the dinner table, where I have just warned the children that their food is hot. Spicy hot.
Me: There are two kinds of hot: temperature hot and spicy hot.
Astute Child: And there’s the L-O-V-E kind of hot too.
Me: Umm, yes.
pause
Me: Anyway, that food’s a little spicy, so take a small bite first.
I don’t know what to say to that, other than do not assume that TV programs or commercials will go over your children’s heads. We don’t watch much TV, and we filter the commercials when necessary, and this stuff still slips through.
You whose garments are hot, When the land is still because of the south wind?
Job 37:17
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 6:11 am and has been carefully placed in the Conversations category.
July 14th, 2011 at 6:32 am
At least Astute child did not add the word “sexy” to the hot kind of love, like my 6 year old once did. Be prepared that the youngest of 4 children will know a lot more than his eldest sibling did at any given age.
July 14th, 2011 at 11:16 pm
Since my child had to spell “love” and couldn’t even say that, I think we’re safe in that he won’t say the S-word either.
But his brothers might not be so cautious.
July 16th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I grew up thinking ‘sex’ was a curse word.
So I used it as such one time in a heated argument with my older sister.
As I was munching on the soap, I think my mom was holding back laughter.
July 17th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
The censors are deciding whether to allow that comment to remain visible, since you actually typed out the S-word.
July 18th, 2011 at 12:24 am
That Ricky — he’s such a troublemaker.
July 18th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Sorry. I would edit it, but I can’t.