Words that begin with “S”

HAVE YOU EVER HAD THAT MOMENT when your child catches you “off guard”?

I have to admit that my third child seems to do that more often than my other two. Maybe that is the definition of a third child. Grace certainly fits that definition.

A backseat discussion between Grace and William in the backseat caught me completely by surprise. We were on our way to our regular Friday afternoon commitments. Grace attends a ballet class on Friday afternoon. William normally begs to avoid it since he has to sit in the lobby with me and the other siblings. I figure it is payback for all the games that Grace has attended over the years as a little sister. (William doesn’t see the need to payback, of course.)

As we rode along I heard this conversation begin after William commented on a book he was reading:

William: “You know some books do have the B word even though Mom tells us that’s not right.”

Grace: “Well, I hope it doesn’t have the S word.”

Insert a loud gasp and internal panic from their mother here.

William: “Well, you shouldn’t say the S word.”

Grace: “Yeah, people get in big trouble at school because they have said the S word. My teacher says that that is an inappropriate word.”

Gasp! She heard it at school? Finally I get myself together enough to interrupt the conversation and say, “You do not want to use the S word. By the way, what is the S word Grace?” There. I asked the obvious question. I was really afraid of the answer!

Grace: “Mooooom! You know I can’t say it!”

William: “Yeah Mom, don’t make her say it!”

At this point I am thinking that she must somehow know THE S WORD.  My brain is panicking…how? when? why? Curses you older kids and your influence…must be something carelessly shown to her from YouTube. I just knew it! I finally got control of my mind as I drove.

I asked, “Grace? Can you spell the S world for me?”

Grace: “You know …….S…….and um…no wait, let me start over.”

A-g-o-n-y!

Grace: “Stop hitting me William! I can’t concentrate on spelling!”

William: “Don’t spell it Grace!”

Me: “Grace, you won’t be in trouble. Just spell it for me.”

Grace: “OK, but you can’t ever say this at school Mom.” (No problem my dear, especially if this is the word I am thinking.)

Grace: “S……..T……U……P……I……D……Stupid.”

William: “Yep, that’s it. Stupid. That’s the S world.”

About this time we drive up to the ballet studio. William and my little innocent ballerina hop out ahead of me. I put my head on the steering wheel and laugh uncontrollably with relief. Grace *IS* still a six year old! I’m not a loser mom and I don’t always know what word is going to come out of her mouth.

You just have to laugh at these scary moments in parenting. I’m so glad I had her tell me what the word was because I could have stressed over this offhand comment for the rest of her life. To be honest, I really want that to be the only S word she knows for the rest of her life.