Singlish

I had a communication over the phone with my friend yesterday, she advice me that speaking proper English is necessary. I just laughed it away without drilling into my brain or simply take it lightly.   This is definitely due to my negligence and ignorant as so far I have no communication breakdown with my friends regardless from which country when we communicate in English and I perceive it will not happen.  Unfortunately, it finally happens to me yesterday night from my boys.

My youngest boy gets into trouble in school due to kids play and using nasty words among the schoolmate.  Thus, as a mother, I had no choice but to talk to both of them on how to handle the situation going forward prior their bedtime (that is our private conversation every night).   Shown below is our conversation.

Me:  Hey duke, I used to get friends calling me name when I am young due to my huge body size.

Boys: Oh, really?  So, what do they call you?

Me: Fatty fatty bom bom.

Boys:  ???? Ha ha ha ... What’s that?

Me: Oh, it mean something like a slang “woo la la”.  Briefly, they trying to tease me for being “fat”.

Neal:  Ooooo, that’s awful, how do you overcome, mom?

Me: Simple, either you walk away or take it lightly.  You may want to joke with it if you can.  Concisely, be a happy person.  Remember what I used to say 规范， 做一个善良的人，做一个孝顺父母的人，做一个有礼貌的人。

So far so good…. Still in track and nothing goes wrong with our conversation,…   until Sean addresses me this question.

Sean: Anything else you can share about nickname those friends calling you.

Me: Oh yah... sure, like Miss Piggy, 猪小妹，Blur Queen.

Boys: Blur queen, what does it mean?

Me: Blur queen is blur queen loh.

Boys: Why? Because you worn a spectacles or glasses?

I pause for a while and trying hard to explain the meaning of “blur queen”:  emmm, it means I am always confuse, silly, forgetful, disorganize.  errr.

Neal: Oh mom, what you trying to imply is muddle-headed.

Sean: You can you use another word which is empty-headed too!

Suddenly, I recalled her noble words that I had nothing to debate about, but to agree upon totally.  If we do not use the vocabulary constantly or right grammar frequently, we will be from bad to worst!