I’ve written about my quirky “middle child” George and his very distinctive turns of phrase. And I know I really should be working on this with him now that he’s approaching age five… But I’m sorry – it’s just so damn cute.
I dread the day when he stops saying “Hey AY-body!” (“Hey everybody!“) I’ve started a list of favorites in my head so I don’t forget them:
elebator and eccalator (elevator and escalator)
Ice wah’er COLD (ice water)
Pinkie bank (piggy bank)
EEEmember? (remember?)
Ah OR did! (I already did!)
Miss Kelfer (Mrs. Kelleher – his teacher)
Slow ho (slow poke – I KNOW!)
Ah don wan be AY-thing. I wan be DUS DORGE! (I don’t want to be anything. I want to be just George! – in response to a suggested game of pretend)
See Mai – you gah do lak dat! (See Mommy – you have to do it like that!)
Ah don know fer eat! (I don’t know what I want to eat.)
Last time ago… (a long time ago…)
Ah lak a zert! (I like dessert!)
Notice the trend of exclamation points? My boy is quite vehement in his self expression. A neighborhood friend with a son the same age calls this patois, George’s “preschool jive.”
Eleanor is endlessly entertained by my imitations of George. As am I (since I find MYSELF endlessly entertaining). So we tend to repeat his little sayings until they become part of our daily lexicon. Not great for teaching him proper English…
But not everything George says could be classified as preschool jive. His speech is sometimes quite clear. But he generally makes up for clarity with hilarity. For example, this exchange that took place as we encountered a miasma of mixed perfume scents in the cosmetics department of Macy’s:
Eleanor: It smells like cooking in here.
Me: Do you think it smells like “cookies” or “cooking?”“
Eleanor: I think it smells like cooking.
Me: I think it smells like incense.
George: I think it smells like fashion.
This just may be my favorite thing that anyone has ever said… So I think I’ll end with that, AND a clip I posted recently of my favorite thing that anyone has ever done:
Oh George…I don’t know anyone like you. You’re a true original.
Hee Hee! Love these phrases and so glad you have recorded them. We still say PRINCILS for pretzels here b/c when M said it, we loved it!
Oh, my, thst is so funny and cute!
That IS one of the best things I've ever heard too! Love him!
I really wish I had written down my son's preschool jive! (He's 29 now – I guess he speaks grownup jive now…) I do remember that he used to say "harmonkida" for "harmonica" and it made me smile every single time.
I love things that kids say….and I also have a hard time correcting them.
Oh how I love these. I wish I'd done a post like this when my middle kid was four.
I'm so glad you wrote this stuff down. I used to do that and I need to continue. It all goes by so fast and then you forget just what is was that they used to say.
Sweet post.
Love the "George-isms". Who would want to change those? Priceless. Have a wonderful wknd, Kate! xo
I may have to start calling my kids slow-hos.
Every time we pass a favorite neighbor's house, Mira yells "Potty's House!" – I am sure Polly's parents are thrilled.