ZAP!

Words are a big deal in our house. We like them. Especially ones that are fun to say or obscure or just plain big. So it’s not uncommon for one of my kids to ask what a word means. More words to use to influence others and win friends. Or be a big giant geek. Whichever…

And so it was on a recent Tuesday night. The kids were freshly bathed and pajama’d and we were watching TV. Suddenly the boy-child asks, “What does zap mean?”

I stall for time trying to figure out how I can explain zap to a 5 year old. Sometimes the easiest words are the hardest to explain. The only thing I can come up with is to poke him and make a buzzing sound. I find this woefully inadequate and turn to my mother thinking she has more experience answering questions from kids. You know, being a grandma and all. She fares no better.

Suddenly my beautiful geek of a girl-child says, “Zap? I know what zap means.”

She launches into this incredibly complicated explanation involving ELECTRONS and the transferring of ELECTRIC CHARGES. I stare at her mouth wide open as she excitedly relays this information before I check on the boy-child and his reaction to this explanation. He has pulled a blanket over his head apparently indicating that he is NOT LISTENING. Oh, dude, I am so right there with you. Not that this deters the girl-child. She’s quite proud.

I walk over to the boy-child, poke him and make a buzzing sound. Problem solved. Sometimes simple is better. BZZZZT!