If you were to visit my home, you would need to know how to translate a few words and phrases commonly heard:
“Brooming” – The act of using a broom
My daughter was learning how to mop the floor. She announced she was done “brooming” and what was next. Brooming? I laughed and explained that it was called sweeping, and brooming wasn’t a word. She looked at me like I was crazy. With a serious face she explained, “It’s a broom…I am brooming.” Finally convinced that brooming is incorrect, she quickly asked, “Ugg…Is that going on your blog?” I answered, “I already made a note of it.” Perhaps more practice “sweeping” will help that word sink in.
“Merote” – The thing that turns the channels on the TV
No matter how many times I correct this, little one is always looking for the mer-ote. Then she corrects herself by saying the me-re-mote and then finally remote. It was cute the first 100 times.
“I’m too sore” – Too lazy to do something
Little one has tired and sore mixed up, but in reality it translates to lazy. When asked to do something, she responds “I’m too sore” like she’s 100 years old and needs a cane to pick up the PlayDoh mess. Wait till she turns 40…then she will understand the true meaning of sore.
“Prinzle” – a pretzel
Child #2 is never going to get this right.
“I’ll do that later” – I will never do that, and that potato chip bag will remain under my bed until I leave for college
My son’s response to anything I ask him to do.
“Maybe” – No
My standard answer to anything they ask me such as “Were you about to make some cookies?” or “Can you take me and 5 friends to the movies and then buy us all Starbucks after because wouldn’t that be fun?”
Oh no. More translation needed…..not enough that I don’t get the humour when it’s an Americanised version of English which is truly a misnoma! Now I’m entering another zone lol
Too funny Melinda. And they’ve got you sussed. They know that all their moves and moods will be duly turned into an amazingly funny blog for this Aussie to enjoy. Lemons to lemonade…what could be better
Patricia Perth Australia
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Twitter: findingthehumor
says:
LOL I’m lost on some Aussie words myself.
I think the kids have figured out that maybe is always a no.
Move over, Erma Bombeck, Melinda’s in the howzzze!
It finally dawned on me why you are so funny; you capture the essence of parenthood and distill it even more into an aromatherapeutically essential oil called Eau de Guffaw.
I believe we can relate to your secret codes of communication (excellent post picture!) and malapropisms. These will become great – or embarrassing – anecdotes to recall around Thanksgiving dinner tables of the future.
It’s almost time for the football game – where’s that merote?
Cheers,
Mitch
Mitchell Allen recently posted..Gratitude
Twitter: findingthehumor
says:
LOL once again I had to look up a word…”Guffaw”. Before finding out what it meant, the word sounded more like something that wouldn’t make a good scent but maybe more likely describing the funky smell of a teenage boy’s room after he had 4 friends over for an all night gamer session which I would call Eau de Sweaty Tennis Shoes for lack of a better vocabulary word. Now I get it! Love it!
Funny you mention Erma Bombeck. I was a huge fan before I had kids, so I just in the last few weeks got a few of her books to reread..twenty year later..since I do have kids. “The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank” was lying on the counter and my son saw it. “What’s this?” he asked laughing at the title. I explained who she was. He said “If you need it, it will be in my room.” He stole it from me, read it, and loved it.
I don’t recall reading her books, though that title sounds familiar.
I remember reading things in Reader’s Digest and seeing her quotes.
Here’s one that perfectly meshes with your “lemons to lemonade” philosophy:
“Laughter rises out of tragedy, when you need it the most, and rewards you for your courage.”
Cheers,
Mitch
Mitchell Allen recently posted..Gratitude
Twitter: findingthehumor
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Oh what a great quote! I think that is my life motto. ha ha
Twitter: BasicBlogTips
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Melinda, I know that line about “I’ll do it later” very well. My little one (who is 27 and lives across the country in LA) was visiting last week and she is still giving me that response about a box of letters from an old boyfriend that I keep reminding her to throw out. This time I added – “You don’t even know that dude anymore!” to the end of my request. She and her girlfriend laughed at me for saying that. However the box remains in her old bedroom….
Would I be a bad Mom for tossing it? I mean it’s totally your call, just say the word and later on I can always blame it on you (or Oprah)
LOL!
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Twitter: findingthehumor
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Ha ha Ileane. I say get rid of it and then just claim you have no idea what happened to it. This way you can totally blame me ON the Oprah show during the farewell season’s “Giving Bad Advice” segment where I am confronted by an angry 27 year old who wants her letters back. Then we both win by getting to meet Oprah so isn’t that a great idea? I’m going to see what I have to wear.
The two of you would leave Oprah speechless.
Mitchell Allen recently posted..Gee Whillickers
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lol Ileane will steal the show and probably be invited to lunch, and I will just be carrying her bags or something as punishment for bad advice. That won’t stop me from getting a picture of me and Oprah at lunch which would be awesome and I could put it on my sidebar so I look like a celebrity.
Oh gosh, my niece used to ‘me-rote’ too. That and ‘me-rove’. LOL. Also, do you think it’s bad that I’m only in my 30′s and I’m always sore? Because my husband sure hears that a lot from me these days.
Haha, love the word “brooming”..Come to think of it, your little one is right – a broom is for brooming (while a sweeper must be for sweeping)! A few days ago, I was asking my friend’s barely 2-year-old daughter a candy from her little bag. When she gave the candy to me, she said “Thank You”. When I gave her a small toy, she said “You’re welcome”. My friend and I think that was cute, but I guess they have to correct that before the little tyke thinks those were the right responses.
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At least you’re honest with the “maybe=no” routine. My parents were good at that one; unfortunately, I have no kids to turn that one on against.
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