Words I love to Hear

The kiddos have some cute words that I (almost) never want to correct. If it weren't for a few college roommates who still had their childish lexicon*, I probably wouldn't correct it. 

From Miss M:

Nick Knock Name - a shortened version of your name. Another name to call you. Her example: "I named my turtle Tree, but his nick knock name is Trrr. (AKA nickname).

Maquarium - the zoo for aquatic animals. We drive past the Maquarium on a regular basis and I love hearing her comment on it.

Miss M is in Kindergarten now (holy cow!) and not loving it--though she's made some friends. I have a hard time convincing her that she can like many things (or people) at the same time. She is the type of girl who only likes one thing. (And in her mind, she's the only one who likes it.) "I like rainbows, mom. I don't like trains anymore. Only rainbows." "I love cats. I don't care about rainbows." "I made friends with Alex so I don't play with Phoenix anymore."

I had to step in on that last one and tell her that it's really good to be friends with lots of kids. She can still be friends with Phoenix even though she's friends with Alex too. I don't think she believed me.

From Pak Man:

Anything ending in 'er' automatically has the letter 'd' added to it. Examples: Spencerd, diaperds, coverds, herd... oh, wait, that one is supposed to have a 'd' at the end. Biggest problem... I say it now too.

This isn't a fun word or pronunciation... just some fun Pak antics. He likes to play this game with me where he covers his cheeks up and has me count to (whatever number he randomly chooses) before I can kiss his dimples. Then we reverse and I cover my cheeks while he counts. I can't resist those sweet dimples. 

I tell him he's a good boy and he started telling me I'm a good boy too (my job is to say, "I'm a girl!). Then he always wants me to say he's a good girl (just to tease him) so I do. He started saying things like--after I lift something heavy-- "You're a strong guy, Mom!" I love his sweet compliments. 

* One of my roommates grew up calling a rubber spatula a kiddie cheater (because it cheats the kiddies out of licking the bowl). She didn't learn until collage what it was really called. 

Another one of my roommates really said Birfday and Valentimes. I never knew if she was trying to be cute or if she really thought that's how it is said... I hope she just thought it was cute but she was so consistent with it that I never dared ask.