Slight risk...

At the risk of being a little inappropriate, in a completely innocent way, I need to tell you a story from the lunch today. Jeremiah was talking about someone giving "a good effort." Micah piped in that he knew he wasn't supposed to say that. After a brief moment of confusion I realized he was talking about F-word, which when said quickly in a conspiratorial tone by a child who is letting another child in on a secret--sounds like "effort." While avoiding eye contact with each other (so as to not burst out into fits of laughter), Jeremiah and I explained to Micah that effort meant working hard etc. while F-word was a naughty word that we never ever say. I don't think he realizes that F-word stands for another word and we carefully avoided clearing up any confusion on that point. We'll let him think that saying "F-word" is not okay as long as we can, even if it means he also avoids saying "effort." Josiah, the wiser older brother he is, informed us that it is not okay to say the "e-word" either. We weren't quite sure what word he meant, so he explained to us that the "e-word" is an mean, nasty word to say to dumb people. He was referring to "idiot." Signe clarified that idiot begins with an "i" actually. I'm not really sure how the conversation ended and what other misconceptions I furthered, but I know that someday they'll comprehend it all. Someday they'll be parents...

Poor Poor Poet

Signe hasn't given up on the cat issue, but neither have I. Today she writes to her parents on a note-card:

I want a cat, not a bat.
I want a sister, not a blister.