Julian is really, really proud of his abilities right now. Barely 5 years old and still in pre-school, he is reading and writing and doing math and we applaud his efforts and successes and spend a lot of time helping him read a lot of signs, books, words, etc. Everything is an opportunity to practice the skills his sister so easily displays (remember - he wants to do everything just like her!)
So this morning, while he was eating breakfast, Julian asked me for paper and pencil so he could practice some writing. He was sure he could figure out how to write this something on his own. We didn't have a lot of time, so I asked him what he needed to write. Very matter-of-factly and innocently he replied:
" 'Kiss my ass'. I think I know how to write that on my own, mom."
Before you go thinking that those are everyday words in our family (they are not - we are very careful about what we say to keep our tones respectful and mostly swear-free) you should know that I've always taught my kids that there are no bad words, but how, when and where you say things can be thought of as disrespectful, not appropriate, etc. When they've heard or asked about certain words, I've explained what they were, what they meant and whether or not they are appropriate and under what circumstances (many explanations are "Adults can say this, kids cannot".) So......
"Do you know what that means?" I asked.
"I forgot." (Very sincerely, and I believed him)
"Where did you hear that?"
"On Hairspray." (One of his favorite movies.)
Sure enough, we did watch Hairspray a month or so ago and they did say that. At the time, I told both kids I didn't approve of them repeating that and told them what it meant, but I can't really expect Julian to remember. He was so sincere about being able to write those simple words on his own, all I could do was try to move onto tasks at hand - like getting dressed and eating breakfast - and saving my laughter for when I was in the car alone. Watching the movie was my doing - I didn't vet the thing before we popped into the DVD player.
Needless to say, I explained what it meant and that it's not appropriate for anyone to say it and that we weren't going to practice writing it (for now - I'm sure it will come up again in say, 6-7 years from now!)
Out of the mouths of babes!!! It still cracks me up!
3 comments:
This made me crack up too... but heck at least he *could* attempt to write such a "meaningful" phrase (!!) unlike my five year old boy, turning six in August, who would probably demonstrate said phrase in the most unflattering way!! Ah the delights of a Montessori Education! ;-)
Speaking of Montessori schooling, my girl-friend was re-telling a story recently of her five year old daughter who attended the local state school and her daughter's best friend (funnily enough from tap class) who attended a nearby Montessori school. The two girls were discussing what would happen if they got lost and whether they could tell a police officer their parents phone number and/or address. Montessori girl (barely five) recited her whole address, including zip and both parents' phone numbers. So my girl-friend turns to her daughter and asks: "So what would you say to the policeman Hannah?", to which she looked squarely at her mother, hands on hips and sighed "Oh Mummy, I tell him I lived in a house of course!"
Ah the 'delights' of state funded education....
That boy is a keeper!
Too funny, R ... love it!! Julian is too sweet for words.
- m
ha ha ha--that is classic. sheer genius. love it. "Hairspray" also happens to be the fave movie here at stately Wilkinson Manor for O & A and let me tell you there's nothing like hearing these two croon, "Now I've tasted chocolate and I'm never going back!" love it!
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