Pragmatic Commotion

family life in organized chaos

reading and manufunctioning

A few weeks ago, we were all riding in the van together and I asked FavoriteSon if he would read for a while (his teacher gives “dollars” for reading 15 minutes a day).

As he got his book, PinkGirl, who turned three in November, began, “I need to do my homework I need a book I need a book to weed too,no not DAT book, DIS book. NANK you mommy.” She put the book on her lap, opened it up and after about two seconds she sighed deeply and said in a frustrated tone, “I can’t read.”

I picked FavoriteSon up from school the other day and I was wearing a suit. He said, “Where were you mom?” “I worked today, Bud.” “Oh, usually you’re home manufunctioning something.” I think that was a compliment. Manufunctioning. Good word.

February 22, 2004 - Posted by Julie Stiles Mills | Uncategorized | | 1 Comment

1 Comment »

  1. It always makes me smile when an older sib models right behavior–reading, yeah! And it also always makes me smile when a new word is fashioned–manufunctioning. Now I need to put it into a sentence of my own.

    Comment by Elle | April 29, 2008

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