Wednesday 28 August 2013

Things I've learnt with/from young grandsons this week....

....include the following;

A "fart whistle" in no way resembles a fart. Upon explaining this to the woman who'd sold it, we were told that  "all farts are different. For instance," she said, "I'm a vegetarian..." (too much information).

If enough burrs are thrown at you, they make the skin itch for some time afterwards.

Children fight. All the time (I already knew this, but it was a tiresome reminder).

Boys eat. And eat. And....you get the picture.

Boys are endlessly funny/entertaining (fortunately. I knew this, too, having three sons of my own, but it's a nice reminder).

Children ask ridiculous questions just in order to keep you talking (eg "what's your favourite letter of the alphabet?").

That there's a wonderful word for that desperate patting of pockets etc. to find things such as keys. It's called "grubbling".

That when they come to stay, they want to do exactly the same things, every time, even including having me  read the books I read to them when they were toddlers.






23 comments:

  1. Ha ha I recognise it all. This week I got, "Would you rather be eaten by a shark or stung to death by a hornet?" or "Would you prefer an invisibility cloak or be able to fly?" Sometimes I'm stuck for a reply.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a lovely reminder of the joy that is young boys!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so looking forward to having grandchildren.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am completely unconvinced that any fart sounds like a whistle. I somehow can't imagine a twelve year old listening to you reading Spot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, no. It's the whistle that's supposed to sound like a fart. (And it doesn't.)

      Delete
  5. It's wonderful to know there are things you can learn from your grandsons, and I'll bet you learn the same things every time they come to stay, with the possible exception of the fart whistle, which they will (hopefully) have forgotten about by next time.
    Still laughing,
    K

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kay, you're right. Out of the mouths of babes (and grandsons) etc etc.

      Delete
  6. My little nephew visited recently. He has a marvelously random conversational style.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Not quite sure I know what you mean by burr, since I know the word only in connection with speech.

    My favourite letter of the alphabet is M, by the way. Not just because my name starts with it, but it can be written with such a swing, the up and down and up and down again, ranging from the elegant to the sporty, whichever way the writer chooses it to look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meike, a burr is a very sticky seed case, which adheres to fur, cloth etc.

      Delete
  8. Grubbling! What a brilliant word. Sounds like you've had great fun with the boys, Frances :-) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Teresa. Yes - 'grubbling' is a superb word. I agree.

      Delete
  9. I can't wait for my grandson (8 months)to utter forth with such wonderful questions and excellent vocabulary. I can't wait for sticky fingerprints (everywhere)and finding odd things in my bed or the fridge.

    Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

    And 'grubbling' is a brilliant word.

    Anna :o]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anna, our windows are permanently covered with little fingerprints. I just leave them. Happy reminders of kids (and very sloppy housekeeping!).

      Delete
  10. I love 'grubbling' as a word. I shall adopt it henceforth. I'm looking forward to being able to read to my grandson (without him just wanting to eat the book or tear the pages). He's 13 months now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you discovered The Baby's Catalogue? It's a brilliant book (though it can be eaten).

      Delete
  11. Francis,
    Might I add to your list the wisdom that "fingernails don't need a whole bathtub? and the warning that practising mental math in the car causes car sickness (and sea bands do not help). hmmm....

    I have to ask if you got your apostrophe poem?
    McGregor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the tips, McGregor! Two people wrote apostrophe poems (I think....long time ago). But do have a go if you want to...?

      Delete
  12. Francis,
    I popped one at the the end there, mistakenly thinking you hadn't gotten one, and now I have found the other two - clever, aren't they!
    McGregor

    ReplyDelete