Saturday, August 29, 2009

Young Love



The Honey Girl is smitten with a gorgeous little boy at church. His name is Jonah, and he is about 5. She talks about him a lot, gets very excited when we're going someplace where Jonah might be, and enjoys our Thursday night home group because she may get the opportunity to sit beside him on the couch and gaze at him while he watches a movie.

He, of course, doesn't know she exists except as a sword-fighting, ball-kicking, costume wearing tomboy!


So the Honey Girl's mind is constantly aware of opportunities that might give her the chance to draw the name "Jonah" into the conversation. She refers to him as "MY Jonah"!


On a recent drive home, Pants and the Honey Girl were safely strapped into their seats behind me, chatting amicably. This is a rare occurence. Usually trips to and from our home involve epidodes of Car Wars : a series of brief but intense milary-style attacks on each other, complete with missile launching, screaming and assorted insults.


So I resolved to keep myself seperate from this unusual interlude by simply listening and not partaking in the general pleasantries being exchanged behind me.


Until I heard what they were actually discussing.....


"Boys have a bottom and a todger, and girls have two bottoms" Pants was carefully explaining to his sister. They discussed this between themselves, including functions, location and humour of those particular body parts.


And, inevitably, they came across a question they needed me to answer. So I gently explained what the "real" names for those particular anatomical structures were, for boys and then for girls.


The Honey Girl became quite excited at this point and was almost cheering by the time I paused in my biologically correct definitions and labelling.


"A va-jonah?! I have a va-jonah?! A va-jonah?! Not va-jonah from church, but a different va-jonah. My own va-jonah" ......


And so I imagine the time will soon come when I am explaining to Jonah's Mum, probably amidst a serious sermon or moment of silence during prayer, why the Honey Girl is calling out to "her" *Va-Jonah*!!


And I guess I'll have to cross Jonah off my list of favourite boys' names now.




Friday, August 21, 2009

Some Explaining ....

There was an incident on the school bus recently, which has led to our family needing to rename the Boombah. We're thinking "Pleasantly Plump" might be approrpiate, or "Slimically Challenged" or possibly maybe "Donut" (as he is sweet, round and a little bit fatty!)


From the moment our youngest emerged into the world, all 9 and a half pounds of him, round, squishy soft and with cheeks that begged to be squeezed, he's been known as Boombah. We used to sing the Fatty Boombah song to him while cuddling him and gazing into his eyes. He just IS a Boombah - he's the very essence of the word!


But sadly, it's time to rename the baby.

The Rabbit apparently misunderstood the loving and caring attitude behind the name that made it an acceptable and loved nickname in the family, and referred to another child from school as a "Fatty Boombah". And got himself into a lot of trouble, as the Principal happened to be riding on the bus that day.


Which is why I found myself explaining to the Principal the next day WHY my child might think it's okay to refer to someone as a Fatty Boombah. And why I've decided a name change is on the cards!!


How does one eloquently explain that, at 30+ years old, I thought it was a good idea for my children to call the plump youngest member of our family a Fatty Boombah? How do you swallow that look of combined suprise-disapproval clearly lacking in humour and continue to justify WHY the baby is called Fatty Boombah.

the Boombah was sitting on my hip at the time of this "discussion", but I resisted the urge to hold him up say "LOOK! He IS a Fatty Boombah!! THIS is a Boombah".


I just turned very very red, hung my head in shame, agreed that it was a "very silly thing to do" ( I THINK he was talking about the Rabbit and not my naming skills!) and scurried into the classroom feeling like I was in primary school again!