Funny Things We Say

Learning to use the English language is a tricky thing. Sometimes I am reminded how tricky it can be to maneuver by listening to Milo and how he navigates it all. Silly things like mixing up words and phrases, or hearing a word pronounced not very clearly and then mimicking it back incorrectly. This brings me a lot of joy and I find myself laughing frequently at some of the things he says. I know that language is a learning process, and I think he is doing brilliantly, all things considered. That being said, there are some precious words and phrases that are said, which will eventually be corrected with age, knowledge and experience. In the meantime I get to treasure these vocabulary foibles and share them with you.

While driving I find that it is easier to concentrate on my driving if Milo has something to occupy him. This is usually a book, a toy or some music. This morning we had the honor to travel to school with both Optimus Prime and Bumblebee Transformers with us. (By the way, Optimus Prime and I have an understanding now, and I can transform him in under 2 minutes, Bumblebee and I are still negotiating.) Milo still struggles with transforming them himself, but he is very clear that while Mommy is driving she can neither transform a robot to a car, nor can she fetch him his fallen cup, tie his shoe or any of the myriad requests given by Milo during our 10 minutes drive. Today, horror of horrors, Optimus Prime fell on the floor.

Milo: Oh no! Mommy Opi-prime fell down!
Me: Well that is unfortunate
Milo: You get him.... Please! He is right there. Please Mommy please.
Me: I cannot get him while I am driving, it isn't safe, but I will try to when I stop
Milo: Okay (sadness in his voice, head bent down, lower lip out) Nobody is getting my robot for me.
Me: I will try to reach him when I stop.
Milo: That makes me sad when nobody gets my robot for me.

I reach a stop light and I reach around the back seat trying to feel for this robot truck, to no avail.

Milo: Right there Mommy, right there! (pointing frantically)
Me: I cannot reach him babe, I will have to get him when we get to school
Milo: (tapping his chin with his forefinger) Hmmm, maybe we need longer people
Me: Longer people? Do you mean people with longer arms
Milo: (laughing at me, mocking me really) No Mommy, longer people, then they could get my Opi-prime. Silly Mommy!
Me: Yes silly Mommy, what was I thinking?
Milo: I don't know, you are a goose!

I have tried with no real success to teach Milo the fine art of the knock-knock joke. We have the concept down, but he still really doesn't get the joke of it. He really prefers just asking people to knock-knock. This is one of his favorites...

Milo: Say knock-knock Mommy
Me: Knock Knock
Milo: Who's there?
Me: Smell mop
Milo: Smell mop is a bad word!
Me: Well not really
Milo: Knock-Knock
Me: Who's there?
Milo: Milo Sheridan
Me: Milo Sheridan who?
Milo: Milo Sheridan Milo Sheridan! (Laughing hysterically at his own joke for the next several minutes)

Then we repeat this approximately 14 more times. Same result each time. Interestingly enough it is just as funny on the 14th time to the 3 year old as it was on the first.