Here's a little conversation I overheard the other day between my 5-year-old son D- and my 2-year-old daughter M-, while they were sitting on the floor getting dressed:
D- (innocently): You look handsome today, M-.
M- (lovingly but firmly correcting him): No. I'm pretty! Not handsome.
D- (seeing a chance to frustrate her): I'm pretty, you're handsome.
M- (getting riled up, but still just extremely insistent): Noooo!!! Handsome is for boys, pretty is for girls, so I'm pretty, and you are handsome.
D- (scrambling for a BS explanation, just like his old man would): No. ...
M- (shouting now): YES!! Handsome is for boys and you will be in trouble for saying a girl is handsome!
You may enjoy my previous D- conversations, (2YO daughter) M- conversations, and (wife) J- conversations.
Oh, M-, there are so MANY things D- will get in trouble for saying to women...let him get used to it now.
ReplyDeleteOh, he's going to be doing that all her life... even as an adult, I bet! I know these things... I have 4 brothers.
ReplyDeleteSo is she Literal M now? Proper word usage trumps the compliment?
ReplyDeleteYou CAN actually be a handsome woman. Especially if you're in a Jane Austen novel.
ReplyDelete...but I bet he has a "great personality!"
ReplyDeleteHe should ask her how much she weighs.
ReplyDeleteSure, the concept is the important thing, but "handsome" definitely implies "you are attractive but in a manish way" She has a right to be insulted. ;)
ReplyDeleteUm, hello,s he is totally right.
ReplyDeleteYou only call a girl handsome when she has an adam's apple and big hands.
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