The "N" Word

So, I took a bit of a break from writing. But I'm back full force today. Here is a quick and 100% true story that happened last week.

Scott and I were walking around our apartment complex. Or rather, we were chasing Maeve. A lot of the people who live in the buildings that make up our "complex" have dogs that they walk. We walk our 1.5 year old. It happens.

Fortunately, our puppy-esque daughter found a kindred soul. A neighbor we hadn't met yet was walking her adorable dog and offered to let Maeve give him a rub down. So there we were, watching our toddler play "gentle" with the dog. Three adults. Standing around. Breathing. The silence had to be broken.

Neighbor: "She's adorable. How old is she?"
Me: "She's 1 and a half."
Maeve: "Hi......hi.......hi.........hi"
Neighbor: "She's so cute! Hi, sweetheart. How are you?"
Me: "That's all she has so far. Just the two words, hi and bye."
Neighbor: "She doesn't say the 'N'word yet?"

BLANK STARE.

Me: sputtering....stalling....."Uh, um...."
Scott: "Sorry, the 'N' word?" (husband coming up clutch)
Neighbor: "Yeah, the 'N' word. You know, 'no'?"

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. THAT 'N' word.

Thank God. In that moment when my brain was rolodexing through any and all alternate 'N' words, I began to wonder if we'd moved to Skinhead suburbia. Who would teach their toddler that word!? PHEW. I think from now on, we can just say "no" instead of abbreviating. It's not NEARLY that bad.