Potty Mouth

Ella's first word was "Dog." At least, I think that was her first word. Sometimes it's hard to pick the words out from all the babble. Usually it's a minor miracle when you can pick any words out from all the jibber jabber until a kid turns 4 or 5. Sometimes earlier, but usually not. I remember interpreting my little brother's speech for everyone when he was still in diapers. To me, it was clear what he was saying because I had learned to interpret the broken, slobbery syllables, but to everyone else it still sounded like nonsense.

So lately Ella has started saying "Shit," but coming from her little mouth it is still open to interpretation. I might be able to brush it off and claim she is saying something else, but she uses it so appropriately that there is no denying it. She'll be walking her uneasy crab walk and trip over the edge of the rug, and she'll say it: "Shit." Or she'll be trying with all her might to get the last ring on her stacking game and it just won't go on, and she'll say it: "Shit."

I think the real miracle is that she's not saying "Fuck" yet. "Fuck" gets tossed around with abandon here in our house, where curse words add flavor and specificity to our language. Sometimes our 10-year-old nieces will be here and they will catch me cursing. They always make sure to point it out to each other: "Did you just hear Aunt Kate? She said -" and they'll whisper the obscenity in the other's ear like the delicious, forbidden word that it is.

At least Ella doesn't say "No" yet. A child who says "No" all the time is more difficult to deal with than one who curses, right?