Vocabulary Words

We all know that Cael tends to say strange things from time to time.  Clicking randomly on any blog post is likely to lead you to documented evidence to back up my claim.  But, in his defense, I must say that my son has a good grasp of the English language.

I wouldn't have it any other way, I guess.  I come from a family that views poor grammar as negatively as murder or grand theft auto.  I can remember sitting at the dinner table as a child and giggling when my Dad teasingly called me his "little fiend", and then encouraged me to look it up in the dictionary so that we could discuss the new vocabulary word around the dinner table. 

Then Mrs. Cleaver ironed my poodle skirt and I headed off to bed.

For as much as I have tried, Cael and Graham haven't seen the humor and fun of the English language, but at least I have succeeded in making sure they use proper grammar and, whenever possible for Graham, the correct pronunciation of words.

Cael isn't always that predictable, though, is he?

Every once in a while, Cael gets inventive with his vocabulary.  There was the infamous "zerbo" incident, and I won't ever forget about his favorite color "yurple".  Unfortunately, Cael gets cranky every once in a while as well.  And when the two collide, it's a linguistic hissy fit. 

"Mommy, what is a drumkin?"

"A what?  Drumkin?" 

"Yeah, a drumkin."

"I don't think that is a word." 

"YES IT IS!  My teacher said it in school."

"Are you sure it wasn't 'drum kit'?" 

"No.  Drumkin!"

"Okay, what else did she say about the drumkin?"

"It's something you roll around in and jump on."

"Was it trampoline?" 

"NO!  A drumkin!"

On a normal day, I might be able to convince him that he simply misunderstood his teacher, but on that fateful morning, Cael's grouchiness got the better of him and I got an earful about drumkins. 

"Stop it, Mommy.  A drumkin is a thing.  A real thing.  It's a thing you get in and roll around in down the street.  You should know about a drumkin."

"Cael, you can't talk to me that way.  I know you're frustrated, but 'drumkin' is not a word I know."

"Tell me what it is!"

Normally I am a firm believer in not letting the little maniac get the best of me, and if he orders me around or talks to me disrespectfully, he will definitely see the time-out corner.  But in that moment, since I was driving the van and unable to hogtie him or strap him down with a zerbo, I did what I could to shut down his temper-tantrum.

"Fine, Cael.  A drumkin is a very tiny drum.  You put toys in them and roll them down the street."

"But what does it look like?"

"It's blue with yellow stripes.  They sell it at WalMart." 

"Why didn't you just tell me, Mommy?"

"Well you see, Cael, you are what I like to call a fiend..." 

It's in the dictionary right under "drumkin".