This morning as we're loading up into the car for pre-school our just turned four year old, Zuzu, takes a quick look at my face.
"What's that on your chin, Mommy?"
Great. Like I wasn't self conscience enough.
Mommy has a "boo-boo" on her chin, I tell her (because I'm thinking the words "zit" or "pimple" might just perpetuate the conversation). And then, clearly without thinking at all I say, "I know, it's ugly isn't it?"
I fasten her seat belt and get into the front seat. I start the car.
"Mommy, what does ugly mean?"
The world stops. Really? I just taught our four year old the word "ugly" and now I need to define it for her? At 9am on a Monday? When I am already preparing to face the gloomy morning with more than one large "boo-boo" on my face? What have I done and how could I be such a terrible influence???
So I attempt to explain that ugly is not a very nice word. I shouldn't have said it... but sometimes people use the word to define something that is not at all pretty. Just like sometimes people use the word stupid to describe something a little annoying when they shouldn't.
"So ugly is like Shrek, right? Because he's an Ogre. So he is ugly."
But is he?
Four.
