Friend's House

A few days after Lucas started nursery, he told me one day 'Go friend's house', and yes he pronounced the 's! I was puzzled for a while. I thought I missed some announcement about his classmates birthday party. Then I realised he meant 'go to school'. I always tried to avoid using the word 'school' as it sounds too serious. He is supposed to go play and 'play school' is a mouthful. So, I usually asked 'Do you want to go to play with your friends?' That's how he made up the word friend's house.

The word 'school' and 'teacher' are never used in the nursery. All the teachers are referred to as Auntie so-and-so. The wall has no sign of alphabets but every inch is filled with the children's artwork - ranging from T-Rex to solar system to snowman.

Lucas is downed with a bout of very bad flu and cough. He missed his friend's house twice. As I tucked him to bed just now, I said to him 'You need to get a good rest. If you still have running nose and coughing tomorrow, you cannot go play with your friends'. He repeated after himself, 'Running nose, no friend's house'.