She's Riding a WHAT?!

Dear Readers -

Sorry for the gap in postings - life got in the way.  As did a trip out of town.

The subject matter for today's musing comes from two things Hubs said last night that, in other contexts, would be just wrong, but in our house, are a normal occurrence.

He said:

"He just won't open up wide enough for me to fit it all in there."

and

"Look, Mommy, your daughter's riding the camel."

Now…

Over the past 2 years since I became a mom, I have oft thought about how much of parenting is innuendo.   My first realization of this came when my poor reflux-ridden premature twin babies came home and because of all the pain they were in and how difficult feedings were, Hubs and I spent a lot of time discussing their 'sucking' and 'spitting.'  A LOT of time.  Sure, some giggling occurred when we'd realize the ridiculous things we were talking about.

Feeding is often the source of these quotables.  Take the first one from Hubs above - he was talking about how Connor wouldn't actually open his mouth wide enough to get the spoon in to eat his baby food, but out of context, it just sounds WRONG.

Let's not even discuss the amount of sentences referring to bottles that can be misconstrued because of the use of the word 'nipple'…

Kids aren't innocent in this either.  So much of what they say is innuendo, especially as they learn to speak.  

Why, it's not a normal day at the Hoff Haus unless someone tells Hubs to "fork fork fork" (though it comes out as something less utensil-y) or someone informing us that a <truck> has driven by, although that's not what it sounds like (think a "c" word…)

And it's not too uncommon to find one of my kids 'riding my leg like a horsey,' despite its resemblance to a dog in heat.  (Or, in some cases, riding each OTHER 'like a horsey' - which I do promptly put an end to.) 

Sure, in addition to these situations that you often just shake your head at, you and your spouse now find yourselves engaged in lengthy conversations about the various fluids that come out of your tiny child (and some days you marvel at just how MUCH can come out when only a small amount is going in...).  You've traded in evenings of couch-cuddling and double feature dates at the nearest cinema for picking up toys, washing bottle parts and restocking diapers.  And sometimes you wonder if it's all worth it. But then your child stands up in the bath, takes the wash cloth, and informs you he/she is washing his/her boy/girl parts (which my kids do...), and you will laugh.

Bottom line, raising kids is hilarious a vast majority of the time, IF you care to see the humor.  And truly, seeing the humor is the only way to make it through some of those rough days.  Because, on those rough days, looking up to see that, sure enough, your daughter IS bouncing up and down on the back of a stuffed camel in the middle of your living room, reminds you why you did this to begin with, and you'll smile.