The hubby likes to use the “right” words. It doesn’t make sense to him to dumb down things when Spicy Girl asks, “What’s that?” (her new, and most favorite thing to say, by the way).
“That’s Spanakopita,” says Daddy.
“Spooonakoopida,” says Spicy Girl.
“Very good,” says Daddy.
“Why not just say spinach pie?” I ask.
“It’s the right word. She’s Greek, Chinese, Italian, Irish, Russian, um, American. She needs to learn the right words for her foods.”
“Oooo Kaaay.” I’m not going to win this fight.
It’s actually quite funny as she points at things and Daddy tells her what they are.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a fan belt.”
“Fun bolt.”
“What’s that?”
“A Bengal Tiger.”
“Bungul Tiber.”
“What’s that?”
“Credit Card.”
“Mine.”
“No Spicy Girl, not yours. Daddy’s Credit Card.”
“My Credit Card.” Spicy Girl smiles.
One of Spicy Girl’s favorite toys these days is the classic Tupperware Shape-O. You’ve seen it, the blue and red ball with 10 yellow pieces, each a unique shape. The child learns shapes and spacial relations by putting each of the pieces in the designated hole. It’s a crowd pleaser for children and their Gen-X parents alike. It’s also a place where Daddy uses the “right words” to identify the pieces.
In a recent trip to a pediatric eye doctor, these particular “right words” came in handy. As the Dr. was testing Spicy Girl’s distance vision, he held up cards with black shapes on them.
“What’s this?” The doctor asked.
“Circle.”
“That’s right. Now what’s this?”
“Square.”
“Very Good. Now, what about this? What’s this?” The doctor flipped the card to show a house, filled in so it was a solid black shape.
“Pentagon.”
The doctor flipped the card around to look at it himself. Startled, he said, “Yes, yes it is a pentagon!” Then he turns to my husband and says “Kids usually just say ‘house.’”
“We use the right words in our house,” says the hubby.
Yes, we do.
Now, what’s the right word for that? Oh, that’s it, “co-pay.”
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