Are you interested in knowing which word it was that he introduced me to in that first email that made it so appealing?
THREEMAGEDDON (three-muh-GED-in)–n.: The supposed hellfire and brimstone that would erupt should an annoyed mother reach the third digit while counting aloud to 3 to get a non-compliant child to get his act together..
“ONE !….TWOOOOOOO !!!!….. ”
Every single one of my boys has been subjected to “threemageddon” and I laughed until I cried when I read that one! Now that I have the book, I’m daily able to pull it out for a great laugh. It is truly amazing that Eric had the wherewithall to make up these great words that almost all parents can relate to in one way or another.
Eric very graciously agreed to my request for an interview! …..
Q. Tell us a little bit about your family.
My family consists of myself, my wife/best friend Kara, and our 3 fascinating and inspiring children. Two boys and a girl – Jaxen is 10, twins Maya and Crosby are going to be 7 on Feb. 19. We live in Morristown, NJ. .
Family life can hectic and difficult and trying a lot of the time, but there are precious and unforgettable moments woven in there. You have to make sure you’re always looking for them and able to appreciate and enjoy them. Because those are what life is really about (within your family and everywhere else you go.) That is one of the many important things being the father of this family has taught me. Find the good in things. The good is worth looking for.
Q. Was there a particular event that triggered a “lightbulb” moment of inspiration for this book?
One day my son Jaxen was looking in the mirror at the gap in his mouth where his upper-right bicuspid used to be. He clutched a dollar bill, courtesy of the Tooth Fairy.
“What do you think?” I asked.
And he replied “I think that if I knock all my teeth out I’ll be rich!”And I thought … there should be a word for that – A cross between the words “Orthodontics” and “Entrepreneur”. And thus was born – “ORTHODONTREPRENEUR” (ORR-tho-dahn-truh-prehn-ORR) noun : a child interested in knocking his own teeth out in the interest of a hefty payday from the Tooth Fairy.
Q. What is your favorite word (or the one you relate to the most) from the book?
I love all the words in the KidDictionary. They’re all special because they stand for moments I’ve experienced in the upbringing of my children. Some are things that have come and gone. But because of this book I won’t ever have to forget them. The most pleasant surprise in publishing this book has been that others have mirrored this sentiment. Strangers are telling me that the words in The KidDictionary have captured precious moments that they’ve shared with their kids and will provide them with a way to keep them close to their memory after their kids grow up and move on. That really makes me feel good.
On a purely comic level though, I think my favorite word is WISHJACK: To maliciously blow out the candles on another child’s birthday cake. It’s one that resonates with a lot of people. Everyone’s seen it happen. Now there’s a word for it, and I just think that one works especially well. I also like INVISIBOOBOO quite a lot – The spot on your child’s body where you placed a band aid to appease them when they got hurt though did not bleed.
I can totally relate to being the parent of an “orthodontrepreneur” (or any word with a form of entrepreneur in it LOL). I actually think of my sister everytime I hear the word “invisibooboo”, it’s just too funny. Of course, any parent with a toddler or preschooler understands the terror experienced when a known “wishjack” appears on the scene at a birthday party.
I highly recommend this book for parents. You can find purchase links at www.TheKidDictionary.com and at Amazon.com! It would also make a fantastic gift for any expecting/new parents you know or just as a lovely pick-me-up for a friend who’s a little overwhelmed by parenting at the moment.
The KidDictionary has the uncanny ability to turn an “ordinary” event into something that’s funny. It kind of makes me look at challenging situations with a little different perspective and a bit more humor.
Eric has very kindly offered one very lucky commenter their very own copy of The KidDictionary! To enter, please visit the book’s website. When you’re done, just come back here and leave a comment telling us a funny situation with your child, or a situation that you think deserves a word of it’s own!
To earn extra entries ….
… Twitter a link to this contest then come back and leave a comment with your @ twitter name.
… Blog about it with a link to this post and come leave a comment with a link to your post.
This giveaway will end on March 10th and is void where prohibited.
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February 27th, 2009 at 10:42 am 1
Oh, I’m gonna totally wishjack for this book!
February 27th, 2009 at 10:54 pm 2
The words I saw on the blog are right on. I like Spoonami the best. Is there a word available for the battle over one toy that both kids need to play with at the same time?
Aubiens last blog post..A Quote from Pippin
February 28th, 2009 at 6:23 am 3
when my grandson makes a mistake in his pants now that deserves a word of its own.maybe oopsiepoopsie
February 28th, 2009 at 8:49 am 4
Is there a word for “I can’t wait until kindergarten starts.” That’s what my daughter is wishing for now. LOL Thanks for the contest.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:36 am 5
What a great idea for a book. How about when the kid finds that marker from the lot you swore was picked up and colors on his sister. Oh well what is wrong with a little color in the world. Thank you for the intro to the book and the giveaway.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:54 am 6
how about a teen who has younger brothers and sisters who poop in diapers and accidentally sits on a candy bar in the car letting it melt looking like a poop stain and not realizing it for awhile uhoh
February 28th, 2009 at 9:58 am 7
When my grandson was just learning to talk, there were a lot of letters he couldn’t pronounce (he has had to have speech therapy as a preschooler) So he would make up words for what he wanted…he couldn’t say milk so he would ask for “GO”…his parents had to learn that Go meant milk. He did this with several things until he got a better command of speech. The word would never have anything to do with what he was having it mean.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:58 am 8
My daughter has been in love with the Disney Cars movie for three years now. All this time I thought it was a bit odd that a girl loved this movie. The other day I said something about Lightning McQueen and she said NO MOM it is Lightning THE queen. Awwww it all makes sense now!
Abbys last blog post..Freebies for the week
February 28th, 2009 at 2:19 pm 9
Great idea a kid’s dictionary!
February 28th, 2009 at 4:28 pm 10
When our grandson throws up a bit my husband call it “chucks” as in “he chucked it up”.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:15 pm 11
Great prize!
March 1st, 2009 at 12:37 am 12
March 1st, 2009 at 6:24 am 13
I would like the dictionary for my grandchildren.
March 1st, 2009 at 10:02 am 14
This would be great for my great-granddaughter.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:13 pm 15
Meredith Rogens last blog post..Bye bye Otis the Ovary.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:14 pm 16
Oops I meant twitter, https://twitter.com/meredycat
Meredith Rogens last blog post..Bye bye Otis the Ovary.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:34 pm 17
my brother could use this for his kids
March 1st, 2009 at 6:35 pm 18
The dictionary looks great
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:49 am 19
I think there should be a word for when mama has terrible morning sickness and is potty training a child at the same time. It’s not a good thing!
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 am 20
I can soooooo relate to THREEMAGEDDON. The bad thing is when the child finishes the count for you. Hahahahaha not a good thing at the time but funny as heck after you think about it. I would LOVE to share this book with my grown kiddos (one of which is now a father of four).
Thanks so much!
dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 am 21
Great idea for a book. Interesting read.
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 pm 22
great for my grandkids.
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:39 pm 23
The kids would like a word that describes their face when I give them something that they do not like to eat…and have never even tried.
Tammys last blog post..Did I accomplish anything?
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:47 pm 24
Terrific book. I read his blog. This guy is a riot! When my two little granddaughters fight over a toy, I call it “push-pull toy episode”. I don’t know if that qualifies as a new “word”, but I know we’ve made up many since having kids and grand children. I just wish I wrote them all done:)
maggie@mannwieler.com
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:48 pm 25
Subscriber by email
maggie@mannwieler.com
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:12 pm 26
There needs to be a word for when kids get up ridiculously early on Christmas morning and gang pounce on their parents to wake them up, because they can’t open the presents until Mom and Dad are aawake!
March 5th, 2009 at 5:25 am 27
My son says to me “If noone knows where Timbukto is, do they know where Timbukone is?”
March 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pm 28
I would use with with my son.
March 6th, 2009 at 11:28 am 29
Here’s a good one I just thought of that is totally my kids
Inevitaspill – For those times you gave your kids something that you just felt in your gut that they would inevitably spill or drop but you ignored it and gave it to them anyway in hopes that you were just being paranoid.
March 7th, 2009 at 10:25 am 30
enter me
March 8th, 2009 at 10:50 am 31
When anyone in our family gets crabby we tell them they are doing a snortin nortin!
March 8th, 2009 at 1:49 pm 32
My kids could use this. Their favorite words right now are bathroom related and they need some new ideas.
March 9th, 2009 at 5:31 am 33
I would love the chance to win, thanks.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:11 am 34
sounds adorable the book that tis i still recall my kids events
March 9th, 2009 at 9:41 am 35
I love the idea of a kid dictionary. My son could really use this.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:19 pm 36
Last year, for her Language Arts class, my daughter had to write a dictionary with new entirely made up but needed words! She did a “growing up with siblings” dictionary, and it came out so cool! I’d love to show her this!
Cassie
March 9th, 2009 at 3:18 pm 37
My little one introduced me to his friends by opening the bathroom door ( I was sitting ) and saying, “That’s my Dad!”
March 9th, 2009 at 3:31 pm 38
My four old son has always called Reese Peanut Butter cups go-go’s. He started this when he was two and it has stuck.
March 9th, 2009 at 3:35 pm 39
I love when they beg you to go swimming in the middle of winter. I try to tell them it is too cold, but their only answer is they can wear a coat. THAnk you
March 9th, 2009 at 7:08 pm 40
SNOOT…. something my son ALWAYS does and drives me nuts
March 9th, 2009 at 10:16 pm 41
I missed out as a kid reading and now I always read to my grandchildren
it is so imporant. Gread prize
March 9th, 2009 at 10:17 pm 42
My dad read to me every night – now I do it to my kids.
Dictionary what a great idea
March 10th, 2009 at 8:21 am 43
As a toddler, if let alone for a few moments (like when I parent went to the bathroom) my daughter used to enjoy coating her body with anything sticky of gooey. She has been covered hear to toe in mud, mayonaise and peanut butter. And happy as a clam about it. (Until we hosed her off again.)
March 10th, 2009 at 8:22 am 44
I really need a word for one my littleone really has to use the restroom in the middle of nowhere!!
March 10th, 2009 at 12:09 pm 45
This sound like a very humorus & enlighten read.
I would be affriad to leave it on my coffee table during playdates.
One of the other mommies would surely put it in their diaper bags…lol.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:00 pm 46
What a cute idea.
March 10th, 2009 at 6:47 pm 47
A situation that I think deserves a word of its own is when your child will only eat food of a certain color.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:32 pm 48
How about magic my daughter blamed her imagineary friend magic for everything they had sleepovers togherther and have been thru magics parents getting sick and also they would play spinning games there has to be a word for that
March 10th, 2009 at 7:33 pm 49
We now call bagels filled with cream cheese ‘maygos’ because that is what my 3 year old calls them
March 10th, 2009 at 9:49 pm 50
How about a word for changing a dirty diaper?