Me: "I'm going to go work on something else, y'all."
Zack: "Why did you say Y'ALL??? What IS that?"
Me: "I'm tired and when I'm tired the Southern in me comes out."
Zack: "You're not THAT Southern. Don't say that anymore, it's weird!"
Me: "I can't help it! It's a legitimate contraction! And by the way, do you know what the plural of "y'all" is?"
The other boys looked up with a degree of interest normally reserved for viewing something really strange but potentially interesting.
One of the boys, dubiously: "What?"
Me (proudly): "All y'all."
And that is how parents wreck their "cool" image at sleep overs.
Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack. Visit her shops by clicking here. She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party® and author of the book Bead Soup.
This parent just laughed out loud at the answer "all y'all." I'm surprised that didn't get a giggle out of one of the kids.
ReplyDeleteCracked me up. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Zack is a typical "pre-teen" - Already monitoring your "cool" factor!
Ha! Yeeehaw!!!
Oh ten year old sleep overs, I remember them well. Cute story and I bet they think you are pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteYou're a great mom! Kids need to have some reason to roll their eyes at their friends. It's just part of the mom job! I posted on fb about my daughter and our grandgirl born today. Very scary shit. stuff. I'm tired and can't think straight. I just want to cry. Love to you, Lori.
ReplyDeleteYou're pretty good to have stayed cool until now:) There's nothing wrong with y'all and I'm not even Southern.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! When my daughter was in her teens and at her most obnoxious, I once danced across the front of a packed movie theatre to get to my seat - and then, right before sitting down, announced that I was HER mother (with dramatic pointing). She about died. I told her she should never, ever act like such an obnoxious snot again, because I could embarrass her FAR MORE effectively than she could embarrass me.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could tell you that it worked for longer than a few weeks, but it sure was fun!!
nice.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, "y'all" is SINGULAR, and that the proper plural is "all y'all". Is there regional variation? LOL. Hope Zack had fun. We need to do a sleepover.
ReplyDeletehahahah! that's funny!
ReplyDeleteI remember that explanation when we moved to Alabama! I miss the south! Your still a cool mom... don't give up!
ReplyDeleteLove that Lori! I don't think you could ever look or Sound uncool!!! Hope you are feeling better! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love it! And so totally get it. Bless their hearts...
ReplyDeleteha ha this made me chuckle Lori :-)
ReplyDeleteYou need a "like" button!
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha ha ha. I love it.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've gotten rid of most of the Southern in my accent and lexicon, "y'all" has stayed. Oddly enough, even though I use it all the time, and P occasionally uses it, my girls have not picked it up.
Coming from a girl, who at this point, has still spent the better part of her life in Alabama,not saying y'all would be like trying to go all day not saying "and". It's more than just a vocabulary word, it's an identity and it rolls of the tongue like sweet honey! Tell Zack that I hope y'all are doing well! ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL - you made my day :) That's such a splendid post!
ReplyDeletefunny Lori, hope all y'all had fun
ReplyDeleteLOVE it! I wholly believe we are here [in some part] to embarrass our kids... builds character! Hope you are well ~~T
ReplyDeleteToo funny Lori! I had an internship in Florida and spent several years afterwards saying y'all! Being as how I moved back to New York State afterwards (for a job there), I too received the strangest looks. I still slip up from time to time. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky that you've been able to stay in the 'cool parent' category for so long. You reside with the rest of us now. LOL
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this story! My daughter, who spent the first two years of her life in Milwaukee, and the next fourteen in Alabama, swore that she'd never say "y'all". Because she was, by geographic birth, a yankee. You can imagine my smug glee when "y'all" made its way into her vocabulary (after six years in Kentucky -- hey, whatever works!)
ReplyDeleteSweet!!
ReplyDeleteY'all be careful as you might just begin to sound like Paula Deen.
ReplyDeleteToo funny my friend...
I love it! LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteHope you are well, Lori.
Hahahaha. That is all..ya'all.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha. That is all..ya'all.
ReplyDeleteAn adorable story! Y'all...I just like how it sounds and you'll catch me using it from time to time. Comes from my exposure to others and time spent in the south. I embrace it whole heartily!
ReplyDeleteOh man , I can't stop laughing. Ya'll is a good word. How about u's or u'ess. I visited a friend's mother in upper New Youk once and she said U's and U'ess. Be blessed to be a blessing
ReplyDeleteAwesome! And yup. All ya'll is the plural! lol! I love this!
ReplyDeleteLOL! That is awesome!
ReplyDeleteWell bless their hearts!
ReplyDeleteI was taking a Hebrew grammar class last Sunday, and my rabbi tried to use "y'all" as a plural. I had to correct him and tell him that y'all is singular, and all y'all is plural.
He did not appreciate me derailing his class! LOL