Thursday, January 26, 2012

Another day, another new word

I was happy to hear that the nine year old was reading one of my favorite books in school. 

                                       

So when he was looking up vocabulary words for homework, I didn't think twice.

Until he came to me and said he couldn't find a word. 

Which word?

Castrate. 

I made him show me the word, 'cause it couldn't possibly be a word in the book, let alone a word he needed to look up for homework.

He showed me.  Pages 103-110 or so was all about how Old Yeller helped corral the hogs in order to clip their ears and castrate them. 

Funny how one forgets such things in the decades since one read one's favorite book.

I immediately started having flashbacks to the horribly hilarious essay the ten year old wrote for the same teacher when he had her last year.  We needed to avoid similar embarrassment.

So, I looked the word up in Webster.  It says, "to render impotent or deprive of vitality".  Funny, but clearly not helpful.

So I stalled.

Now, you may be wondering, "You live on a farm, and you raise pigs.  How do your children not know that word?"

Simple.  We're not real farmers.  We get our pigs when they are 40 pounds and well healed from their own castrations.

I explained to him that our pigs are castrated before they come to us.  That it is done to protect the taste of the meat.  Blah, blah, blah.

Then I just blurted it out. 

"They cut off its balls."

I can't believe the words came out of my mouth.  I hate that expression.  But when my boys say, "I got kicked in the...." that's what they say.  I don't know where they learned it.  I just know I needed to say something that he would understand clearly.

And did he ever.

His eyes bugged out, there was a long pause, and he said, "How am I supposed to write that?"

I suggested male body parts.

I don't know what he ended up writing.

I'm just grateful that this teacher doesn't require what many other teachers in the school do.  Their students have to draw pictures of their vocabulary words.

Have a lovely day!




18 comments:

  1. This made me cringe and then laugh OUT!! Oh my. Reminds me of when I first shared the truth of "womanhood" (aka menstruation) to my daughter--at HER request when she asked me at age 10 "what are THOSE THINGS for?" And I asked her, "Do you REALLY want to know?" To which she said, "yes"...her eyes bugged out of her head too! I am headed over to read about the horrible essay now. Glad to have discovered your blog. I am visiting via Wrinkled Mommy's TALU today. Happy Tuesday!!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it, and glad you stopped by! I'm guessing your daughter won't ever REALLY want to know the answer to any question ever again. :)

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  2. hhahahaha - oh my. I was thinking "how in the world will you be able to gently describe this to your son?" and then BAM - you let it fly! I guess honesty is best. lol (TALU)

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    1. I was flailing. I had no idea what else to do. So, honesty won.

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  3. Wow. I personally believe you handled this extremely well. What I'm left wondering is what exactly was the purpose of have it as a spelling word?! Simple so that they are able to learn what it means. Hum... interesting.

    TY for linking up with TALU :) Have a great week!!

    -Jessica
    www.sugarinmygrits.com

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    1. Thank you. I'm beginning to wonder if the teacher did it just to get a laugh for the day.

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  4. Ahhh! Well played, mama, you handled it well! There are so many things we are completely unprepared for as parents, huh? The things you never thought you would say out loud! That was a good one...
    Back from TALU!

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    1. Ain't that the truth! Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be saying such things. With five boys, I know I should expect some talks like this, but I wasn't expecting it to be over homework!

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  5. HAHAHA! Thanks for the laugh today! You handled it better than I probably ever will! Not look forward to that, if that time comes!
    TALU visitor!

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    1. You're welcome. Well, now you have at least one thing to say if it ever comes up. May not be the best answer, but you have an answer up your sleeve. :)

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  6. Wow! I agree that you handled it well. Aw.. parenting moments we never would have expected.
    (Visiting from TALU)

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    1. Glad to have some affirmation. Thanks. I'm actually glad I couldn't predict this one. I would have lost sleep trying to come up with a good answer, and I need my sleep.

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  7. Of course I was taking a sip of coffee when I read that last line. Thanks a lot! Gotta go find a paper towel! ;)

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    1. While I am sorry that I made you snort your coffee, you have been reading blogs long enough to know not to drink while reading. :)

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  8. Hilarious! I'm also wondering why the teacher picked that particular word. Clear, concise - I think your answer was perfect. (TALU)

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  9. Sometimes you've gotta just "cut" to the chase (if you'll excuse the pun). Good for you for putting it to him directly and in words he could understand. Love it! And thanks for linking up with the TALU!

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    1. No need to excuse the pun. I enjoy a good pun. Thanks for hosting the TALU!

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