Potty talk and words per minute
Because I am elderly and foreign, I have very high standards when it comes to the correct use of language. Because I am elderly and foreign, I appear to have given birth to youthful foreigners with very little regard for language at all.
For many a long year my boys have appeared to be oblivious of one another’s presence. The combination of their different abilities and disabilities have maybe masked a relationship that I was too obvious to see. I think possibly the speech delays deceived me?
One brother lies on the floor on his back gazing at particles of dust that whirl around in the only air conditioned room. He emits weary sighs at intervals interspersed with the unusual mouth click that visits him for periods of time, but this stim, or self stimulatory behaviour, is the happy version.
The other one whirs around the room on his imaginary snow board, complete with very realistic sound effects. The ambient temperature is 80 degrees. He covers every surface of the room, including the sofa and wall space above. Because he is fleet of foot, he must have footprinted every inch of the room many times in the space of twenty minutes, yet never once has he trodden on the sprawled body of his brother.
Eventually the little one collapses in a messy heap to announce, “I am dah sweat!” A few seconds later, because there’s always a delay for the speech delayed, his brother responds, “you are not dah sweat, you are dah sweaty!”
“Nooo……I am……..dah sweety!” Both boys explode into laughter, but manage to continue between guffaws, “not sweety, dat is dah English! We are say ‘candy.’”
“Candy is for dah girls. Boys are dah chocolate.”
“It not for girls…dumbass!”
“I not a dumbass……..I clever dick!” The revelry goes up a notch.
“No potty words yah big baby!” as he smears snot across his face with a jelly arm.
“I not baby! I’m dah babe.” I watch him strut and strike a pose, a provocative pose. He brother watches too. He takes a minute or two, or three, “yeah, you right. You are Babe dah sheep pig!”
It must be at least three years since we watched that movie, but the crumbs that they’ve stored away are now coming out on display. Definitely worth the wait.
Stumble it!
November 16th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
What a cute story. Boys are dah chocolate, LOL.
November 17th, 2007 at 2:33 am
I definately agree worth the wait. You must be so proud of how they are doing.
November 17th, 2007 at 3:05 am
What fantastic riffing. I love the way siblings can make each other laugh in a way that no-one can do.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:00 am
That is too funny. I could picture it all perfectly.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:11 am
ha ha ha! love it.
i also feel as if the bonding didn’t quite happen with my children - at least as much as i’d like. but it IS there - and growing more daily.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:18 am
these conversations are so great. thank you for sharing
November 17th, 2007 at 9:41 am
What wonderful language use! I have to remember that as I’m evaluating my English language learners at school - “We are say ‘candy’” sounds like ‘foreigner’ English, but put it in the context of the whole conversation and the exchange is very sophisticated.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Oh don’t you just love what kids come up with? These are great, keep them coming!
Jen @ lordsfothemanor.blogspot.com
November 17th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Oh the lovely potty mouth, it just gets better as they get older…
November 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am
My dear, you write so well…I could hear their voices!
Boys are dah chocolate, indeed.
November 17th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I am torn here…as you know I am a believer in calling people what they prefer to be called. But when you say you are “elderly”…well…I happen to know you are younger than I am! This is just very upsetting!
November 17th, 2007 at 11:13 am
I sometimes wish I carried a tape recorder round with me to remember some of the amazing things Amy comes out with. Your boys are certainly sweet.
Crystal xx
November 17th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Its always good to know there is a relationship when you thought there was none there before!
November 17th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
You have a comment from Crystal Jigsaw who has an autistic daughter, as does Marla Fauchier Baltes (from Indiana]. I suspect that there must be others with autistic offspring who blog and are perhaps seeking other parents with autistic children’
Me? No such problem, but I am struck by the need of the mothers of autistic children to instigate some dialogue with others in the same situation.
What more useful purpose blogging could serve I really don’t know, but it would surely be reassuring to know that you are not alone in this world and have others in similar situations to compare notes with.
You are all lovely and should have medals awarded for “Devotion to duty”, not that you would all necessarily subscribe to that or accept them.
A problem shared is a problem halved, or something like that.
November 17th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Wow, that exchange sounds so “typical”. Although more clever and inventive than most brotherly conversations.
November 17th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Gah. Your boys are so cute, it kills me. Great story.
November 17th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Oh. Wow. I am trying to picture the pose. It’s a sight…
November 17th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Reading this was like watching a movie.
I am dah Babe. Might try this one at home!
November 17th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
OMG your boys constantly crack me up! I can picture the scene so clearly, too! And yes, boys ARE dah chocolate! YUMMY!
And Bill Tippins…what a lovely thing to say.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Beautiful! Sorry to correct but this girl is definitely dah chocolate!
I love when my kids tease each other. Most often they call each other “silly poke” (a transformation of “slow poke”) which is so cute that I just let them insult each other with it.
November 18th, 2007 at 6:24 am
too too cute! I am dah babe! haha
November 18th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Not to be crass but Americans speech is terrible! If I hear YEAH one more time I am going to scream …. AHHHH! Yes how hard is it to say YES! Sorry rant over!
November 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Just when I thought I was finished laughing! The boys are a hoot! I can’t wait until Rylan starts talking, and he and Jaysen start having exchanges.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:01 am
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