"DEE-TER-MINED"

it's so cute when children first learn how to read and develop their understanding of the english language. being new to words and diction, they are bound to make some mistakes with pronunciation. one of kristopher's flubs stands out in my memory and always makes me smile when i think of it.

this is the story of "dee-ter-mined."

kristopher was 9 years old, in the 4th grade and had lots of reading every night. this particular day, as we drove along in the country, kristopher decided that he would start on his reading homework early. while he read from the book, kristopher would occasionally stop and ask me the pronunciation or the meaning of a word that he didn't know. i would explain or pronounce the word and he would continue to read to me. as he read along, there was one word that just didn't sound right.

kristopher: "and the little boy was "dee-ter-mined" to finish to the race so he ran as fast as he could to the finish line."

me (head twisted to the side thinking - that isn't a word): "what did you just say?"

kt: "i said that the little boy was "dee-ter-mined" to finish to the race so he ran as fast as he could to the finish line."

me: "spell the word that begins with the letter d again please."

kt: "d-e-t-e-r-m-i-n-e-d"

me (suppressing a smile): "now pronounce that again please."

kt: "dee-ter-mined."

me: "hahahahahahaha! (i laughed so hard that i cried and almost ran off the road) honey, that word is DETERMINED not DEE TER MINED. hahahahahaha, that is funny right there!"

kt (laughing hard now that he realized what he was saying): "oh mama, i thought that was how that word was said all of these years (wow- his whole 4 years of knowing how to read). i am glad you told me how to say it. hahahahaha!"

now, when i see the word "determined," i always think back to the fall day when kristopher was "dee-ter-mined" to read while i drove along. it always brings a smile to my face.