Many of the words in the English language have multiple meanings. For example the word "bat" can be a winged animal who is nocturnal, an athletic tool used for hitting a ball, and the act of hitting a ball. In fact some words have too many meanings to teach a young child all of them until a misconception has occurred. Such was the case with my 5-year-old tonight. I loaded my kids in the car to hurry off to the store and return an item. I realized after a moment that my car battery was dead from leaving the headlights on when after driving in the rain earlier in the day. My son was concerned so I told him that I would have dad "jump" it when he gets home, but until then we couldn't go anywhere.
Tonight as I was sending him off to bed he told me he didn't want dad to "jump" the car because someone would get hurt. He then bounced his hand up and down as if to show the car bouncing the the road. I had a good laugh and explained how the only thing that jumps is the electricity through a cable from one car to another. He seemed to be satisfied with that answer.
It reminded me of when I was a little girl. One of my funniest memories from when I was probably about the same age was driving down the street and my mom calling out with delight, "There's the Purple Turtle." Now in Pleasant Grove where my Aunt lived and taught my dance class there is a burger joint called "The Purple Turtle." Each time my mom exclaimed this I would quickly look out the window expecting to see a gnome like man with a pointed purple hat riding on his purple turtle down the street. I NEVER saw him and it was quite disappointing! I would say with exasperation, "I don't see it." My mom would then point to the burger joint and say "it's right there" or she'd say "sorry" and that was that. When I think about the image that I held in my mind I giggle. I can still see it in my minds eye today. It is so fun to relearn the English language from those who are learning it for the first time. Thanks bud!
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