The Chattering Crow: Setting an example for the grandchildren

Friday, February 20, 2015

Setting an example for the grandchildren

Louis Plummer at his kindergarten graduation

Sarah invited me to Louis's first grade class to talk about the Netherlands, which is the culture they're studying this year. I showed them pictures of my grandparents and their house in Breukelen. "Isn't it beautiful?" Then as an aside I said, "They moved from there to a stupid little duplex on 5th East."

Sarah heard Louis turn to the friend next to him and whisper, "My grandma always says bad words."

Apparently, "stupid" is a swear word in first grade even if it's attached to a duplex.

I don't want you to think that he's ashamed of me, because believe me, he loves it when the old lady turns subversive on his parents.

Boys need to be taught good behavior, yes; but too much "yes ma'am," "no ma'am," and "thank you, ma'am," and they begin slugging the dogs.

I know that the word "butt" is a boy's best friend and so is a silly grandma.

I'm off for the weekend. Tom and I are going to catch up with a couple of films before The Academy Awards on Sunday. See you on Monday!

2 comments:

SarahFebruary 23, 2015 at 8:05 AM
Too much "yes ma'am?" My kids have never said that to me...
ReplyDelete
Replies
Angie LarkinMarch 24, 2015 at 12:23 AM
That is hilarious. "Grandma says bad words". LOL! My mom has a specific string of them that she shouts. I apparently inherited them because they come out when I stub my toe or a cop pulls me over.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

You can quote me:

"The beautiful is as useful as the useful." Victor Hugo
"I don't want the damned sportsmanship award."
"Jesus glows in the dark like my pajama tops" George Plummer, age 4
"Our parents are crazy as hell." Sam Plummer, 2016
"Grandma, your hands are old." Sally Plummer, age 3.
"Expect the end of the world. Laugh. Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts." Wendell Berry
"Sitting is the new smoking is the new bullshit." Tom Plummer, 2014
"Never move an old tree." Dutch saying.
"I am universally offensive." Dede Plummer, 2014
"I don't want to see any movie with the word 'guys" in the title." Tom Plummer, 2013.
"Please bless Grandma. And Grandpa. That they can have a nice time. In their apartment." Louis Plummer, age 4.
“Don’t be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible. Stay open, forever, so open it hurts, and then open up some more, until the day you die, world without end, amen.” George Saunders
"Hello, my name is Tom, and I'll be your spouse this evening." Tom Plummer, 2012
Me: " Jesus knows EVERYTHING." Hank (10), "Yeah? How many fingers am I holding up?"
"In my end is my beginning." T.S. Eliot
"Nothing has prepared her for the wide, grey simplicity of sadness and for the knowledge that this is what the rest of her life will be like." Carol Shields
"My life has been a fog, but the only light, the only clarity-- has come from the simplicity of putting permanent ink on paper." Rian Plummer, age 17.
"When I die I'm leaving my body to science fiction." Steven Wright
"Does anybody need to go poopies?" Louis Plummer, age 3
"I grew up in the wide and spacious building." Charles Plummer, 2011
"Pride is a such a useless handicap." Christina Putney
"You are not too old and it is not too late to dive into your increasing depths where life calmly gives out it's own secret" — Rainer Maria Rilke
"Don't retire; retread your tires." Lucy Jarvis
"Grandma is never boring." Mira Plummer, age 8
"Not all who wander are lost." J.R.R. Tolkien
"The only way to get what you really want is to let go of what you don't want." Iyanla Vanzant
"Being in your body is a good place to be." Beatrix Ost
"I'm the world's oldest teenager." Iris Apfel, age 89