It didn’t just start on the train but I’ve noticed while on this trip that Reid thinks “poop” is funny. Sometimes, when we’re walking along or just sitting still, she’ll say “poop!” At first I thought she was saying “boo!” but she helpfully repeated herself, ennunciating clearly. Each time she says “poop”, she grins. Sometimes she chants, “Poopie, poopie, poopie!” And she laughs. Sometimes when someone tells Reid s/he loves her, Reid will say, “I love Daddy” or “I love Mama” instead of “I love you, too.” Yesterday, when Aunt Karin said, “I love you, Reid,” she heard, “I love poop” in response.

We don’t treat poop as a dirty word, no pun intended. I don’t know why Reid thinks it’s funny. Okay, I’m pretty sure that the daycare kids and their older siblings are to blame. We first noticed peer pressure affecting when Reid went to the Toddler Room and suddenly discovered Dora the Explorer but I’m still surprised a bit when it crops up. I’m a slow learner but Reid isn’t, especially when it comes to kid culture.

We’ll just ride it out. My first tactic will be to try to “extinguish by ignoring”. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to reopen one of the advice books I practically memorized when Reid was small.