Gimme Some Big Girl Words

I have a deep obsession with words. I love them. They are to me the ultimate expression of beauty. Well, words and food and the hearts of the people I adore.

But right now I want to focus on words.

Memorable conversations for me are not just those that flowed with ease and fun, but those with an impressive flow of beautiful words.

Disappointing instances in relationships are often for me over the choice of words by the "offending party" rather than the spirit of the disagreement... "I am not hurt by what my boss said, but by her choice of words..."

Even in love, it wasn't Mr. Urban's beautiful face or gentle eyes that first melted my heart, but his words. His mastery of words in different languages. And his calm, sweet, confident delivery.

Now here I am with a three year old who wishes to fit all thoughts and feelings into four simple efficient words with elongated vowels for emphasis and a magical finale: "I DON'T WANT TO" (pronounced: IIIII dooon't Waaant tooooooooooooooooooooooo).

Frazzled, I say through gritted teeth hidden behind a beautiful smile (and the beauty is in the sheer existence and perseverance of the smile) for the sixty forth time that day, "Sweetie, Use Your Big Girl Words".

"WHY?"

"So Mommy can understand what you want".

"Mommy, what is the big girl word for I don't want to?"

"Well, hmmmmmm.... why don't you say what you do want, and also with shorter sounding vowels".

"WHY?"

"Stretching vowels makes people feel.... well, angry".

"Mommy, does short vowels make people happy?"

"Well, the right size vowels and a smiley voice does."

"Oh Mommy, you are so Silly!", she says with a smiley Big Girl voice.

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