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Emily Parnell
on Jun 16 2013 - 06:00 AM
Eating fresh, local produce is good for body and soul
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Jim Cosgrove
on Jun 13 2013 - 06:00 AM
I just want to buy some pants. Please, turn down the music.
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If you met our little guy, listened to him for about 10 minutes you would say, “Yep, you definitely are.”
Then you’d just assume that he grew up in the deep woods of Eastern Kentucky, never saying you, but always ya’ll. Drawing out one syllable words to the point it takes about three seconds to say the word.
I mean you would swear this little guy was an offspring of Reba McEntire. Even Dolly Parton.
It was just about a year ago when we swore he would be mute all of his life. He’d say nothing, unless you counted grunts here or there or some dramatic pointing. The pediatrician was getting a little worried in that doctor way where all they say is, “It may be time to get him checked out. Just in case we need to do more.”
But sure enough, just like most moms here said, one day there was an explosion. His mouth was moving a mile a minute and he was talking in long sentences, using words like ‘absolutely’ and ‘refriculous’ or better known as ridiculous. Now he’s talking like a gregarious 10-year-old.
At his 3-year-old checkup last month our doctor just laughed. “No worries now,” she said.
Not so fast.
Nobody said anything about an incredible southern draw that would creep in. Only now it’s not creeping, it’s loud and proud.
We’re not talking about a slight twang here. Like many kids his age he loves dinosaurs, but instead of “triceratops” it’s “tra-SAY-er-oh-tops.”
For a girl who’s lived 40 percent of her life in the Ozarks, and about three years in Kentucky, I kind of like the little twang. I just can’t figure out where in the world it came from.
We’ve had people in the grocery store ask us, and family members are still perplexed.
Maybe it’s the country music I listen to, someone suggested.
Nawww, don’t think so. He’s not singing in a southern draw, just talking.
Then I thought maybe it’s really an Ozarks accent and I just never noticed how me and all my friends talk. We do go down there about every six weeks.
Probably not it, either, I finally decided.
Then one day I had an epiphany. Or should I say I was sitting there with youngest watching TV and thought my child was on TV.
You know Sandy from Spongebob? Or how about Widget from Wow! Wow! Wubzy.
Yep, that’s our boy.
Looks like he’s taken after some of his favorite TV characters.
Some days I swear we have a little Widget in the house.
Now I’m not sure how long the accent will stay. Will we always have a little hillbilly? Will he start wearing overalls and stick hay in his mouth?
That’s OK. I am a girl from the Ozarks after all.
Aren’t we glad I don’t let Husband or Aunt Traci let either boy watch Family Guy anymore. Who knows how they’d be talking?
Too cute! My mom was raised in St. Louis and north central MO, every once in a while I find myself sounding like I'm from minnesooooota... at least he doesn't say "warsh" or "you know they say..." I always ask my mom "Who says what?" :)Get him to say "yes sir" and "yes ma'am" to everyone all the time, and everyone will think you stole him from some southern family!Very cute! My kids have picked up sayings from tv shows (like "that was SO yesterday, Mom.") I've not yet heard them pick up any accents, though Hanna Montana has a good southern twang going. Maybe he'll be an actor someday, and pick up accents for parts easily.
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