About Rebecca Eckler
Since becoming pregnant with her daughter Rowan, Canadian journalist and author Rebecca Eckler has penned three hilarious books, including the best-selling Knocked Up. Catch Rebecca’s weekly unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood.
Tongue-Tied Kids
eckler plus one: learning words canada
(Aug.19.11)
There are two words that I just REFUSE to teach my daughter how to pronounce properly. These words are “Birth Certificate.” They’re two of the last words in her vocabulary that she can’t pronounce properly. And I LOVE THAT!
Let me explain. When she was a toddler and just learning to speak, and then could speak, there were a lot of words she couldn’t pronounce properly. I got such a kick out of these mispronounced words. There are three of them that come to mind.
They were:
1) Yellow (She pronounced it “Lello”)
2) Earth (She pronounced it “Earf”)
3) DVD (She pronounced it, for some reason, “DBDB.”
I used to find it so cute when she mispronounced words. I’d say to her, “What’s that colour over there?” pointing to something yellow and she’d say, “Lello!” I did this so many times over the course of the year she couldn’t pronounce the word, it was seriously ridiculous.
I’d also ask her at least three times a day what planet she was from. “I’m from planet Earf,” she’d say and I’d beg for her to tell me Just. One. More. Time. What. Planet. She. Was. From. “I’m from planet EARF.”
I think she liked hearing me howl, especially when I asked her to go pick a movie from a pile. “What are those things called?” I asked her. “DBDBs,” she’d respond.
Sometimes I’d say, “Please tell me where you are from, what that colour is, and what those are?” And the answer would be, “I’m from planet Earf, that colour is lello and those are DBDBs.”
Anyway, it was like living with a comedian, because she always made me laugh. Recently, she asked if she had a “Birf Aticivit?” “A what?” I asked. “A Birf Aticavit.”
I howled. And explained it was pronounced, “Birth Certificate.” She tried numerous times and couldn’t get it. So for weeks now, she’s been trying and I finally told her that I REFUSE to teach her how to pronounce the word, because it is just too damn CUTE to hear her pronounce it wrong. Since she likes making me laugh, she keeps saying, “Birf Aticivat,” for my benefit.
What words do you find adorable when your children can’t pronounce them? Share!
Follow me @rebeccaeckler
Thought that was sweet? You'll enjoy: