“Where’s my yogurt drink?”
“Look in the fridge. Generally perishables are refrigerated.”
“Mom, why do you use such big words sometimes?”
Hm, yes, I suppose that phrasing is a bit obscure. Not quite Conrad Blackian, but also not, “that’s where we stick stuff that needs to stay cold.” All I can say, in my defense, is that I like words, and those happened to be the first ones that popped to mind.
“Sometimes when I say big words, people look at me funny.”
(For the record, she didn’t look like she minded being “looked at funny.” I don’t think she’ll stop trying out big words anytime soon. And neither will I.)
File this exchange under Another Example of Like Mother, Like Daughter.
If it makes you feel any better, I do it too.
Pedants unite!
I do it, too. The right word is the right word regardless of length. And I like hearing multi-syllable words coming back to me out of the mouths of my five and three year olds.
You’re right–it gives me a kick too, to hear my kids using my vocabulary (ie. three-year-old shouting, “I be patient!!!!!”).
Mine like to say “I”m so frustrated!” 🙂