“Andy’s pen pal is a moron,” my 8 year old told us at dinner the other night. They have this pen pal program at school where they exchange letters with some kids in Iowa. Or California.
Papa was with us, and his eyes lit up.
“In what sense moron?” he asked.
Obviously papa has been spending time on FreeDictionary.com and wanted to know which of these definitions Young Ladrinka was referring to:
1. A stupid person; a dolt.2. Psychology A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational education. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.
(Ok, is it me, or is calling an 8 year old a moron actually a compliment? Because it’s a mental age of 7 to 12, so depending on where your moron is within the spectrum, it could actually be advanced.)
“Like a moron moron,” Young Ladrinka said. “He wrote about many monsters and instead of putting an s at the end, he just said monster. Like one, except he was writing about many of them.”
“That is not moron, that is confused.”
“Yeah, but if you’re confused about when to put an s on a word to make it plural, you’re a moron.” Young Ladrinka explained. And probably considered adding a few family members to the Moron list.
“Do you think that your pen pal thinks you’re a moron, too?” I asked.
“Oh no,” he reassured me. “He thinks that I’m a genius.”
“Why does he think that?”
“Because I told him that I was,” Young Ladrinka told me.
I need a pen pal.
One year ago ...
- I'm Right, You're Wrong. - 2011
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: ohmommy
December 22, 2009 at 11:00 am
You really should stop blogging and direct your attention to your children.
Take them on the road. Find a cutesy name for their act or something more eye catching using one or all of the aftermentioned words. Moron. Genius. Beaver. Because what you have going on is priceless.
I am testing these comments. Since I am not getting any, I’m assuming that they’re broken. Except from OhMommy, up there, who broke through the broken comments because of sheer will.
They’re not broken, but they are requiring every field (name, email, website) to be entered completely, which requires a fair amount of effort.
(Not saying that your followers are lazy. Or morons. Or anything. Just saying that the entrance bar is higher than normal.)
Twitter: woo222
December 22, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I love it. I know some morons as well. Perhaps they’re related to the pen pal?
Okay, 8yo=moron=brilliant.
I’m putting my mental breakdown on pause so I can comment.
That kids crack me up. He’s a hoot.
You two need to co-author a book, “The World According to Young Ladrinka”.
Too funny!
Your readers think you are brilliant. No pressure.
Twitter: mymessyparadise
December 22, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I tell everyone that I’m a genius, but no one believes me. WTF?
I know of many Iowans if you are truly interested in a pen pal. Only a few of them are of above average intelligence, though.
Twitter: bethsix
December 22, 2009 at 5:52 pm
So strange. My 8-year-old has been using the word moron recently too. I have no idea where he heard it. Certainly not me, or he would be using the phrase, “fuckin’ asshole.” Because I’m classy.
Oh my GOD I love that kid.
That is tooooo funny. Observant child you have there.
Ummm, does anyone have any idea where this kid gets his hutzpah from???
You should have more kids. Lots more.
The world would be a funnier place…
You don’t have pen pals…you have followers.
Feel free to tell us how much of a genius you are.
I will totally believe you.
Twitter: Mamabirddiaries
December 22, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I’ve been meaning to tell you that I’m a genius. In case it wasn’t obvious.
Twitter: HipMom
December 23, 2009 at 2:50 am
yeah, that’s what people do nowadays. Like when people just tell everyone they are social media gurus. Except when you are 8 it’s definitely more charming 😉
Twitter: vboykis
December 23, 2009 at 9:03 am
I used to have a Finnish pen pal in 7th grade. She made me feel like a moron because she was better at English than me. Also because I kept mixing up Finland and Norway. Now she is probably luxuriating in the lap of socialized care while I slave away under Die Kapitalistiche System. Oh, damn. That was German, wasn’t it?
I too am in need of a pen pal. I am a genius.