Through the Eyes of a Child

On Sunday my mom, dad and I started the long process of cleaning out the barn as my niece wants to have a 4-H animal next year. As expected, my niece eventually wandered down and joined the work. Our main project was sorting through the collection of wood that had formed in one end. 


We paraded the wood past my father so he could determine if it goes in the Keep, Donate or Toss pile. Eva came across a piece of Formica and dad told her “that’s Formica. It can go in the toss pile.” She came back into the barn and asked me “who is Mica?”


I laughed and took her back over to dad so he could explain. Of course I then joked that Mica was the name of the man who lived in the burn pile down the canyon and all of the wood we were tossing is “For Mica.” 


She made me think about how kids hear words that adults speak and have their own idea of what they mean.


Until I personally went to New York City, I always thought that Wall Street was just a single building, basically the Stock Exchange. Imagine my surprise when I was standing next to that famous Bull on the actual street that is Wall Street.


I also thought that Broadway was a single theater in NYC where all of the great shows were performed. One theater where all of those great shows were performed- that would be one busy venue. I was stunned to find several theaters all located along a street named Broadway.


My Aunt (my father’s sister) told me that once, as a younger girl, her mother asked if she needed to go to the restroom. My aunt was tired and thought that a restroom was a place to take a nap so she answered “yes”. When she walked in and found a room of bathroom stalls she burst out in tears.


So what words did you mistake as a kid? Or what words have your children thought had other meanings? Share your story in the comments below.