Last week, in “Did You Know a Cat’s Tail Tells the Tale,” I shared something funny I’d said as a child. Unfortunately, not all kids’ “misspeak” is funny. Sometimes it’s downright embarrassing. Other times, it’s insightful.
Out of the Mouths of Babes
Mom & Dad at Texas Baptist Encampment Historical Marker, Palacios, TX. (Nov. 2019)
Many, many, MANY years ago, when Dad was a young child, he traveled to Palacios, Texas, with his family. They joined other families spending time at the Texas Baptist Encampment located there. While roaming free—and up to no good, I’m sure—he happened upon a group of strangers discussing a woman. She’d received a large sum of money when her husband kicked the bucket. Being a resourceful child, Dad immediately ran to share the news. When he found his father visiting with friends, he burst into their midst and in a loud, excited voice exclaimed: “Kick the bucket, Daddy, so we’ll get money, too.”
More recently (only a few years ago), a friend took her youngest son in for his three-year checkup. Part of the examination called for a vision test. Since most three-year-olds can’t read, the eye chart is filled with shapes and figures rather than letters. My friend chuckled in surprise when her son identified the picture of a sailboat as a “cruise ship.” (The family had recently returned from a Disney cruise.) Happiness mingled with surprise (and a bit of pride) when he identified the “+” as a “church.” A plus sign held no meaning for him, but a cross did.
The Sponge Affect
Kids’ comments are funny and/or embarrassing because they speak literally. They haven’t yet learned the underlying meaning of the words and/or phrases they use. This learning process happens, informally, as they grow. Think of children as little sponges, constantly absorbing everything they see and hear. Whether it’s a one-time thing—like with my dad—or a consistent association learned over time—like with my friend’s son—children are constantly watching and learning.
So whether you’re a parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, or just a friend, when you’re around young children be on your best behavior. Those “little pitchers” have both big ears and eyes. And you never know when something you say or do will be learned and repeated by them.