Saturday, February 28, 2009

"What's ...."

“What’s a Dick?”

Oh Geez, here we go again, influenced by kids and hearing things he doesn’t quite understand because he takes things so literally, so I have to try and explain—such as the life with autism.

“Where did you hear that, Nick?”

Impatiently he says, “I just know it.” Which is my cue for: just tell me what I want to know and stop asking me so many questions—such as the life with a teenager…

“Well it references a boy’s penis.”

“Uhhh, N000!” Embarrassed smile.

“It’s not a nice thing to say. Some kids call kids this when they’re just kidding around… but it’s usually said when someone is mad at someone else, like calling someone a jerk. It’s not a nice thing to call someone.”

“It’s not a nice thing to say?"

“No.”

“It’s mean?”

“Yes.”

So I start talking to myself… just not out loud, this time… Please, please don’t tell me that someone is calling you a dick, please, please, oh, please…

“Oh, so my Grandpa is a dick?”

Huh?? ....... “Oohhhh!!!" “Uh hum" (throat clearing uncomfortable moment), "um, in this case, Yes, Grandpa is a Dick ........ his name is Richard and his friends call him Dick!! It's a nickname and a name!!”

Oh My and Phew!! And big smiles all around...

And a lesson learned for this mom—don’t always assume the worse case scenario!!!!

And poor Grandpa..... ;)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny - but I'm sure it's hard for them to understand the dual meanings of words. At least now Nick knows in case the "other" meaning is mentioned at school!

Jake Dillon said...

Ha! I don't blame him the confusion. After all, we had Dick Chaney for 8 years. Hardly anyone can tell the difference between that Dick & Richard. ;-)

Sorry, I could resist.

Anonymous said...

I was so confused by this as a teenager too!!

mama edge said...

I've always wondered why a man would choose to be called "Dick" when he just as easily could be called Rick, Rich or Richard. Why is your dad a Dick?

*Snort*

Holly said...

HA! I don't know why Dick?? I think friends of his at work called him this...because once when I was a kid someone from his work called him on the phone and I answered and when they asked for Dick.. I said, NO, no Dick's here!!

That's when I learned about his nickname...Funny!! Surely there are other Dick's??

SAD STEP MOMS said...

OMG so I just woke up my husband to read him your post, he laughed himself awake!! Sometimes I like to call him Richard!! LOL