Phonics 101

As Sophia says...*Picture this...*

We are driving in the pouring rain today.
Traffic in Orlando is bumper to bumper.

We have just spent over an hour LOST and I am in serious need of caffeine.

Or something stronger.

Only to incur this conversation...

Nicholas: *Mom, what is pennis??*

Me *What? Pennis?? Where do you see that?*
(smart Mommy knows he was reading something)

Nicholas: *Right there. On that car. I love pennis.*

I look around the cars next to us and I see it.
Ya' know - the car that hasn't had a bath in more than a year.
That some nim-ka-poop has written with his pointer finger through the almost-mud on the back of the trunk.

Usually something to the affect of WASH ME.
Or HEY! I was here!

Nope. Not this one.

It had a completely different message.

And my 10yo thought it read *I love pennis* (that's how he was pronouncing it, any way.)

There is no pennis, people.
Subtract an *N* and stay with me here....

Nicholas: *See??*

Me: *Oh, that's a T, Nicholas. Those people love TENNIS.*

Nicholas: *Oh. Tennis. Yeah, that is a T.*

(Whew! that was close....)

Until Maggie sits up and chimes in.

[Did I mention this was the longest red light EVER???!]

Maggie: *Where??* (pronounced Whayar?)

Nicholas: *Right there. That white car.*

Maggie: *I love pennis. That's NOT a T, Bubby. That's a P. Pennis. Mom, what's a pennis??*

Mommy: *Mag, from where I am sitting that is a T. Tennis.* (as I am cringing in my seat)

Thank GOD the light changed.

But that car was turning left with us.
So, as we made the fastest left turn in history, passing the car that needed more than a washing on the outside of the vehicle - Nicholas is up-close-and-personal with the trunk. *Yeah, that's Tennis, Mom. They must really like it.*

(sigh) Until he goes home and thinks about it 2 days from now and realizes what it really said.....

:(