Kids say the darnedest things...

[Peter B]

Not really a KSTDT story, but still I thought worth sharing.

12YOD and I were out for a walk after dinner last night. We live close to the edge of the city, so it's only a 10 minute walk to reach a fire trail which tracks around the backs of the last houses.

We were walking along the fire trail when we came upon an echidna beside the trail. Kangaroos are ridiculously common around the urban fringe and even into the suburbs, but echidnas? I've only seen two in the wild previously, and neither of them up close. So 12YOD and I had the opportunity to watch it for about 10 minutes from only a couple of metres away, as it wandered around foraging for ants.

And yes, one good use for smart phones is the ability to record video of stuff like this (and I'd happily share mine for those of you interested, if only I knew how!).

[Peter B]

Someone doesn't like maths...

All Australian school kids are required to do standardised testing in English and Maths in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, known as NAPLAN, and it's happening at the moment.

At breakfast this morning, 12YOD informed me she had her NAPLAN maths test today. Then, she mournfully added, "...and I have a maths class too, and they're not at the same time!"

[Peter B]

14YOS and I were talking about vaccinations. The context was that all three of the kids (and my wife) have just had chicken pox despite being fully vaccinated.

14YOS: So, why are people opposed to vaccinations?

Me: A variety of reasons, none of them really good. Some people think the diseases aren't dangerous. Some people are worried about additives to vaccines. Some people prefer to expose their kids to the actual disease rather than the vaccine.

14YOS: I've heard that some people reckon the vaccines contain microchips to control everyone. Though that doesn't make sense, they could just put them in the  water supply...

Me: And anyway, people seem willing to control themselves with their addiction to social media...

We both look at 12YOD, whose head is buried in her phone.

She looks up blankly.

12YOD: Huh?

[Peter B]

I was impressed that my kids, 17YOS, 14YOS and 12YOD managed to keep up an indoor game of hide-and-seek for nearly half an hour on Sunday, and I said so to them.

12YOD: It only continued that long because I'm really good at the game.

14YOS: No, it's only because I'm really bad at the game.

[Peter B]

12YOD is learning French at school, although she complains that her teacher isn't very good. My French is as good as non-existent, but I know enough to be able to make comparisons with English.

She and I were in the kitchen doing some cooking. I pointed out that the salt we were using is fortified with iodine to prevent the medical condition of cretinism.

Me: English gets the word "cretin" from French. In both English and French, it means something like "idiot". However, in French it sounds similar to the word "chretien", which means...

12YOD: Croissant!

[Peter B]

Not listening...and not Englishing either.

15YOS, going into his bedroom: I'm just going to close my blinds and curtains.

12YOD: What do you mean, you're going to close your kittens?

15YOS: Huh?

12YOD: What are you, a murden kitterer?

[Peter B]

End of the school term, so the kids are a bit weird-silly...

= = = =

Mum and the kids are slouching around on a sofa. 15YOS inhales loudly. 12YOD looks at him in disgust.

12YOD: Eww, I can see your boogers.

Mum rolls her eyes. 15YOS looks at Mum.

15YOS: Why are you worried? The boogers come from me, and I came from you. So they're sort-of your grand-boogers.

= = = =

We're having a takeaway dinner. 12YOD is eating a chicken burger.

12YOD: Oh no, my burger's losing lettuce like my head does.

The rest of us stare at her, baffled.

12YOD, pouting: I meant, like my head loses hair!

15YOS: Well, that gives a new meaning to 'head of lettuce'.

12YOD, still pouting: I regret saying that out loud.

Me: Yeah, but better to make a mistake like that at home than anywhere else...

[Peter B]

17YOS is profoundly deaf and wears cochlear implants. Because of the way they work, he doesn't hear music the same way as people with normal hearing, and he prefers listening to beat-heavy music without much melody.

Meanwhile, 12YOD is a Swiftie, but has been learning a lot about disco thanks to watching the old TV series "Fame" on DVD with Mum.

Anyway, we were all in the car one day with the radio on. Donna Summers's "Hot Stuff" comes on...

17YOS, excitedly: I know that song!

Me, after a pause to think: "The Martian"?

15YOS, crossly: Aw, what? We were watching that movie in Science last week with the substitute teacher! I can't believe I didn't recognise it.

12YOD rolls eyes.