Who taught my two-year-old THAT??!

toddler looking surprised

It was a routine diaper change—nothing out of the ordinary—when all of a sudden Levi pointed to himself “down there” and enthusiastically said, “NUTS! NUTS!” with a big grin on his face (clearly impressed with himself).

I thought I might have heard him incorrectly so I just ignored it.

Moments later he said it again: “NUTS! NUTS!”

This baffled me a little since Ryan and I have talked about using “proper” names for body parts as he’s learning (knowing that kids have plenty of time to learn slang later).

But surely my husband taught him this. After all, it sounds like him…

Later that night I asked Ryan about it and told him what happened. We had a little giggle but Ryan reassured me that he’s not used the term nuts in that context with Levi.

We shrugged our shoulders and moved on. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

The next week Ryan was driving in the car with Levi when someone cut him off. “Aw, NUTS!” Ryan said (determined not to swear).

A light bulb clicked. Maybe Levi has just heard nuts used as an expletive and it was a coincidence that he was grabbing himself when saying it last week.

Never mind.

But then a few days later Ryan was changing Levi’s diaper when again he said, “NUTS! NUTS!” while pointing to himself.

Still unsure if he’d heard correctly, Ryan ignored it and continued with the diaper change.

And then this…

“NUTS! NUTS!” Levi said as he pointed to himself.

“BIG NUTS! BIG NUTS!” he then said as he grinned and pointed to Ryan (in the right area, I might add).

Apparently he knows what he’s talking about after all.

Where do kids learn this stuff?

And so it begins… Ha!

Dear friends, no doubt Levi learned this from some of our friends’ boys who are 4-6 years old. (Boys that age think the word “nuts” in that context is hi.lar.i.ous.) It was bound to happen eventually, but I was surprised that Levi learned it so early!! How about you? What have your kids said to surprise you lately?

Linking in with Chelsea at the Paper Mama.


About Author

Adriel Booker is an author, speaker, and advocate based in Sydney, Australia who believes storytelling, beauty, and the grace of God will change the world. Adriel has become a trusted voice in areas of motherhood and parenting, Christian spirituality, and global women's issues. She's also known for her work with the Love A Mama Collective—serving under-resourced women in developing nations through safe birth initiatives—as well as her years spent as a Bible teacher and leadership coach. Her latest book is Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss and she's made the companion grief journal available for free. Find Adriel across all social media platforms at @adrielbooker or sign up for LoveNotes, Adriel's 'secret posts' that aren't published anywhere else online. ✌️

11 Comments

  • Sommer J
    9 February 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Their favorite words to use often seems to be expletives or inappropriate uses of words.

    While I was out, my husband told me that my daughter hit her little brother. He scolded her and later told her to go to bed (bedtime anyway), and then while playing the old, ‘i’m not sleepy’ game, she came downstairs and said, “Daddy, I’s soy for kicking Dylan’s ass.” When he told me that I about died from laughing…but of course we had to tell her that was not nice, and where the hell did she hear it from lol 🙂

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  • Nessa
    10 February 2012 at 4:00 am

    That is hilarious! Where do they get this stuff??
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  • Jennie {Clover & Violet}
    10 February 2012 at 4:51 am

    Haha! I keep reminding my husband that Silas is listening and will eventually repeat him. Right now our problem is that the words he’s trying to say are coming out sounding like words he shouldn’t say. Right now we just repeat the correct word in hopes that his pronunciation catches up before he realizes he shouldn’t be saying those words…
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    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      11 February 2012 at 9:38 pm

      hahaha, i can only imagine. one of my friend’s little boys couldn’t say “truck” properly for the LONGEST time. but for whatever reason he had no problem with the letter “f” sound……. Ah!!
      Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos recently posted..the world needs more good menMy Profile

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  • Rachel
    10 February 2012 at 7:04 pm

    Well, that’s just nuts! Fh
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  • Martina
    11 February 2012 at 11:39 am

    Oh Boy, it starts! haha

    Reminds me of my oldest boy, when he was around two, I noticed that he was pointing to down there and saying “tickle tickle!” I could not for the life of me figure out where he had heard that from, until I told my husband and he laughed and said it’s because he had taught him that those were his testicles. That was what he was trying to say! So for awhile after that it was common occurance for him to point to his testicles and say “tickle tickle!”. Boys will be boys!

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    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      11 February 2012 at 9:39 pm

      um yeah! not exactly a place your little boy should be “tickled” by anyone! (yikes!) glad you figured out what he meant without stressing about it! hahaha. love it!! BOYS. 😀
      Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos recently posted..the world needs more good menMy Profile

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  • Tanya
    14 February 2012 at 1:57 am

    Oh dear. Hilarious. Love the photo!
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  • Branson
    23 February 2012 at 8:50 am

    I must admit this made me giggle 😉
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  • Holly
    22 July 2013 at 2:20 am

    I’m 17, and I got my 3 year old cousin to say “holy strawberries batman!”, “houston we have a problem” (when he needs his diaper changed), and “roger that” lol
    Holly recently posted..When you don’t feel at home, at home. And yet you do.My Profile

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