Last month I went on a field trip with my 3rd grader. Destination: Science Center. Tour guide Kevin (complete with mullet, black socks, and sandals) did a fabulous job showing us everything from how a toilet works to why the Big Dipper is located in the Big Bear's butt. I learned a lot.
One thing I learned was that somewhere along the time continuum, teachers and scientists stopped pronouncing the word Uranus as your-anus and made a pact to call it urine-us when presenting to groups. (I bet they still say your-anus when no one else is around).
My 10 year old son with autism doesn't know that anus is another word for, you know, a part of his body. So the word Uranus is not in the least bit funny to him. Not long ago he learned about the planets in school. One day, he brought home a cool big poster that shows all the planets.
As we rode the elevator to get to the parking lot at his school, an elderly lady who was also on the elevator made some comment to Cooper about "not standing near the doors" or something like that. It was an oddly worded comment and I could tell Cooper had no idea how to respond to her. When Cooper doesn't know how to respond, but knows he should respond, he will often make an observation or say something seemingly random, because he just doesn't know what else to say.
So he looks at me, looks at the woman, holds his poster up and points to it and says proudly, "Well, here's Uranus!"
The woman's mouth dropped open briefly before she pursed her lips and looked away. I burst out laughing. (because really, I have the maturity of an 8 year old when it comes to stuff like that) Cooper says, "What so funny, Mom? This is Uranus!"
I love the funny stuff of autism.
I have my hesitations about the whole your-anus vs. urine-us pronunciation thing. I will forever say your-anus, giggles and all. A friend sent me this fabulous video and I felt enormously better that I am not the only one for whom this is a conundrum. Enjoy!
~ Peace.
1 Comment
David says:
!
!