As you know, my four year old daughter Mini is both awesome and horrifying. Here is yet another example of both her ability to be hilarious and my ability to fail as a parent.Allow me to set the scene. We're eating dinner and Mini asks for a sip of her father's seltzer water. He hands it to her and she takes a big sip and then burps. Then she starts maniacally laughing.
Then everything got weird again.
Mini: BUUUURP. (handing can of seltzer back to her dad) I tricked you!
Cap'n Coupon: (takes it back and begins to take a sip) How did you trick me?
Mini: That fizzy drink had the caffeine in it and I drank it and now I can stay up for dong!
Cap'n: (sprays seltzer out of his nose and sputters) What now? (whimpers) IT BURNS. It really burns.
Me: I'm sorry, you said you'll stay up for dong?
Mini: (nodding) Yah. I meant to say that I will stay up for LONG. Like for a long time. But instead I said I could stay up for dong. Silly me. Saying "stay up for dong" is baby language.
Me: Baby language for WHAT?
Hawk (age 8): That's awesome. What's a dong?
Thumbelina (age 10): I know! It's a clock sound.
Me: That's correct! Dong is a clock sound. No more seltzer for Mini.
Cap'n: (apparently snorting seltzer is an unpleasant experience because he has a really weird look on his face) It still burns. But it's so funny.
Let me pause. By confirming that dong means "a clock noise" I think I have handled this beautifully. I may have thought smugly to myself "NAILED IT." Except that in confirming its definition, I have unknowlingly granted my entire family tacit permission to use the word 'DONG' constantly. Because it sounds awesome and is fun to say! And it means a clock noise!
Mini: Momma, if I finish my dinner can I have dessert and some dong?
Me: Yes, you may have dessert.
Hawk: DONG.
Cap'n: snort.
Mini: Ok, I'n done. I want dessert.
Me: You are not done.
Mini: Yes I an. Can I have a popsicle?
Me: No. Finish your dinner.
Mini: I AN DONE.
Me: Do not even ask me for dong unless you can finish your turkey burger, young lady.
Cap'n: That's right. Only good eaters get dong.
Me: I need to go in the other room now. I AN DONE.
Hawk: DONG!
(c)Herding Turtles 2009 - 2013
