As my kids realise they know ‘better’ English than I do I am constantly reminded of the fact that I am old. It was cute at first, but it gets old fast. Anyhow, I thought I should let other ‘old parents’ partake of the river of wisdom that I have been recently allowed to swim in. Well, more like forcibly drowned in. So here goes,
Phrases that mean something else – or so my kids tell me
1. Adult Movie: Now to me this means a movie that is rated above PG 13 – a movie that is not animated, that I cannot watch with kids. Like Catching Fire. But I was politely told, “Mom, it’s MOVIES FOR ADULTS!” not what you said. That is just gross. Ahhh….I see, I understand, I comply.
2. I am hot: I have mentioned this before, I am allowed only to say , “I am warm.” Hot is not to be used as part of my vocabulary any more, it has been eradicated.
3. I feel like a healthy snack: There is no such thing informs my daughter. “Mom, you are healthy, but your snack must be healthful.” Huh! Come again? I am given a lesson, much needed according to my kids in English Grammar. Healthful is for things you eat. I Googled it, they were in the right. I wonder if my brother who recently got his Ph.D. in English knows…
4. Lightening refers to something illuminating or brightening. Lightning is what is accompanied by thunder during storms. Admitted my spellings are 100% at the mercy of Spell check, but this one stunned me. It’s like I was struck by lightening, or is it lightning? Really why do my kids know this? I think that is the question to ask.
5. This one is still up in the air, open to debate. Do we say “draw the curtains‘ and mean open them or close them. Because when I say it my kids do the opposite of what I mean. I think they are just pulling my leg, but really it could mean both. Right.
Will keep you posted of more faux pas that I am destined to make, it is inevitable my kids tell me because, “Mom, you are old.” I laugh in their face. They don’t know what old is!
Learn to laugh 