Friday, 03 September 2010

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Stockdale

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Prissy Mag Editor and Founder Priscilla Lalisse started her Through My Eyes column at Paris Woman Journal in 2003. Here, she continues to share her personal experiences about life in the City of Lights.

Not Lost in Translation
Written by Priscilla Lalisse   
notlost_translationIt was Friday. End of the week, finally. I was just thinking about it, and patiently waiting for my son to finish his business in the minature bathroom of his school. Another boy from his class walks in and heads for one of the tiny urinals. I'd seen him numerous times and chatted with his mom too. Nice. I used to think it was great that she spoke English...used to.

 

Well, apparently her son had some trouble with his zipper and my son didn't like the fumbling too much. I guess it distracted him from his own undertaking. I saw him take on the most serious gaze, and ask his classmate one simple question:

"What the foc?"

That's what it sounded like. A crazy mixture of French/English something, but somehow alarmingly clear. I blinked and turned my head sideways as if my ears hadn't quite heard what he'd said. But before I could ask him, he said it again.

"What the foc?"

This time, I knew what he was saying. But could it be? Could my darling three-year old child be saying WTF? The other mother must have been asking herself the same question, because her face turned a slight color of pink...

Hmmmm.............I'm trying to get him to speak more ENGLISH and this is what he chooses to say?

OK. Who can I blame?

Let's see...father's French, unlikely, though possible since he's fluent in English. Nanny's French. Doesn't speak English. Pretty impossible. School? No, French School. Few English speaking Friends in France for the moment...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

It's Canal Plus' fault! My live box wasn't working, which mean, cable TV was not working a couple of weeks ago. Cable TV out of order for a mother with a child who lives and breathes cartoons. I was frustrated. I vaguely remember saying something...ahem...a few terse words...under my breath....got a friend who curses like a sailor, sometimes rubs off on me...Canal Plus really had me going...Alright, enough excuses...

The culprit could be ME!

Am I a terrible mother?

Nah.

Stuff happens, I guess.

 

 

Priscilla Lalisse moved to Paris from New York City in 1999. In addition to being the Editor and Founder of Prissy Mag, she is the author of the novel STOCKALE. For her complete bio, please click here .

 


Comments (5)add comment
Rebecca: ...
I have a feeling there may be other sources from which your sweet little man may have picked up the ever so poular expression: WTF!
English speaking or not, most people know how to say that one...
1

June 02, 2009
P. Lalisse: ... http://www.prissymag.com
Thanks Rebecca!
smile! I'll keep you posted on possible sources, ha ha.
2

June 03, 2009
CarverMeredith19: ... http://www.lowest-rate-loans.com
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June 10, 2010
Casey Robbins: ...
Kids say the darnedest things. I remember driving while my wife (now ex) sat in the passenger seat as we discussed something. Out of nowhere, we hear a "sshhhh!". We kept talking. Then a louder "SSSSHHHHH!" We looked back at my 4 year old son sitting in his car seat, ankle crossed over his knee and hands clasped behind his head, elbows flayed out like a grown man coming home from work watching his favorite tv show from the couch. And he said to us, "I'm trying to belax."

There's many more stories where he actually cursed but I'm not as bold as you are to share those ones, lol. You're not a bad mother, just a mother who slips up in front of impressionable ears on rare occasions ;)
4

June 10, 2010
Priscilla Lalisse-Jespersen: ... http://www.prissymag.com
Hey thanks so much Casey! I'm proud to say that I haven't had any slip ups since then, lol. I really learned my lesson.
It's hilarious what your son said: how cute! Belaxing, huh? Nice!
5

June 10, 2010

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