Thursday, December 20, 2012

Excuse Me (I passed gas)

 When I describe my sister to people, one of the first words I always use is "hilarious".  I can rattle off story after story about funny things she's said and done throughout the years.  And while I recall these stories in humor, my mom often recalls the same stories with an element of embarrassment as well.  Because "Leanne stories" can usually be attributed to her innocent candor, inhibition, and overall lack of a filter.  If something is on Leanne's mind, she says it.  She says it regardless of who is there to hear it - grandma, Dad's boss, the parish priest - it doesn't matter.  If it crosses Leanne's mind, it comes out of her mouth, appropriate or not.
But as Josie's little vocabulary continues to emerge, my perspective is changing a bit.  Suddenly I'm empathizing more and more with my mom's experience and I'm realizing that, despite my best efforts to teach Josie to be lady-like, polite, and well-mannered, I may be fighting an uphill battle.

Take yesterday, for example.  Josie experienced a little bout of *ahem* flatulence.  Being in the early stages of potty training, Josie immediately declared "Poop!".  I ceased the opportunity to have a "teachable moment" and I replied "No, that wasn't poop.  You just passed gas.  Say 'excuse me'."

But did Josie hurriedly scribble notes from my latest lecture in her "Etiquette 101" notebook with the hopes of someday graduating with honors?  Of course not.  She zeroed in on the new terminology, "pass gas," and she said it OVER and OVER and OVER until I finally surrendered the pursuit of propriety and started filming it...

Lord help me - she's only 2!  Let the embarrassing stories begin!

16 comments:

  1. I love how the conversation digresses into "I love...pass gas!"

    She did a good job with the manners, though.

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  2. OMG! She is the cutest thing!!! A little Leanne in the making.:):)

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  3. Oh my! So cute. :-) Abbie is Josie's age, but when she "passes gas" she either bursts into hysterical laughter or does her arm like a choo choo train and says, "TOOT TOOT!" I think I might take Josie's approach....straight forward and truthful, "I passed gas" instead of what Abbie does. HA! Josie really is amazing with her speech, gas talk and all ;-)

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  4. Too cute too funny
    Beautiful manners Josie!
    She's a straight down the line kinda gal, isnt she!

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  5. I cannot get over how clear her speech is for her age!

    My son says "Let a stinky" LOL I have no idea where he heard it from!

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  6. Tears streaming down my face! She is adorable, even talking about potty humor!

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  7. Just precious!❤❤

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  8. Her language skills blow me away!!! LOVE that!

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  9. HAHAHA...she is such a character....

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  10. SHUT. UP. That girl is a verbal WIZARD. Are you KIDDING me? I would totally let LC announce her bowel movements to the room at large if anyone could understand a freaking word she said. Or if she actually attempted to FORM any intelligible speech. I'm paralyzed with jealousy over here. Josie, you're brilliant. Freaking brilliant.

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  11. Wow! I'm jealous too......her speech is awesome and she is such a funny little girl.

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  12. I love to pass gas..excuse me. Cutest thing ever. I laughted so hard I had to watch twice. What a little sweetie.

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  13. She is just hilarious!
    And I love how much speech she has (even if it is mostly passed gas LOL)

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  14. OMG, she seems so BIG now! Glasses. Full conversations! WOW! GoJosie!

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  15. I know typically developing two year olds who are far less verbal than Josie! She's amazing!

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