Because my child's funnies are funny to all

Ethan recently surprised me by proclaiming out of the blue, "I'm not very smart." I asked him what he meant and persisted in asking until he explained that he wasn't smart because he couldn't read. He also said that he doesn't understand all the words we say. Funny because I remember this exact feeling, wondering why every other word grown-up creatures uttered sounded foreign and feeling unsure that I would ever be able to understand and use those words. He really wants to learn to read and so we've been working on it.

So, now with this hyper-awareness of words, Ethan asks about meanings and origins of the strangest things. The other day in the car we were talking about this great state we live in. I can't remember the point except that it was probably an explanation of geography. (NO, Michigan is NOT in New Hampshire!) Anyway, as we discussed Michigan, Ethan asked, "Why is it called MISH(igan)? What does MISH mean?" Surely, I do not know the answer.

This morning, Keith brought Ethan with him to the nearby hardware store. While they were perusing handsaws and drill bits, Ethan made this observation, "I think they call it 'hard' because it's so hard to make things."

And recently, I had cause to explain the word, "Alms" to him. I began my teaching moment by stupidly asking, "Do you know what that means?" (What was I thinking?) He said, "Yeah I do! It's when someone says, 'Ahhm,...(pretending to point to invisible person)...What do you think?"