The Mom Weekly Volume 139: April 7, 2026
You can read this, or any other previous Mom Weeklies, by going to the home page here. https://themomweekly.com/
Notes:
Happy Easter! I hope we are all celebrating, not just the multiple birthdays and half -birthdays this week, but also the Easter Octave and getting to enjoy the beginning of Easter season.
I had fun writing this week. The title is one of my favorite family lines. It is a gift and a blessing that we have humorous things and sayings in common in our family. Despite being annoyed with each other from time to time, we do get along and have some great shared memories. Never forget that!
Remember how much I love you (whether you are serving as my chauffeur or not),
Mom
Mom, What You Need is a Chardonnay
I thought about titling this, “Kids say the darnedest things,” but the finalist seems more apropos.
Parents around the world love to remember the funny ways that kids say things when they are younger, whether it’s saying, “wylo” instead of “water”, “lellow” instead of “yellow,” etc.
I remember my Mom telling me how much she enjoyed when I, as a young child, said, “Pasketti” instead of “Spaghetti.” And I wish I could still say “Pasketti,” but once you know how to say something the right way, you can’t really go back.
[Digression: “The kid word” is different than mispronouncing things, which to me is a sign of intelligence and being well-read, because you often don’t know how a thing is pronounced. But it can also be funny. I can still recall my oldest sister laughing almost so she couldn’t catch her breath when I, as a COLLEGE STUDENT, said, “deb-a-clee” for “debacle.” I do really laugh along because, what was I thinking? I was thinking I read a lot and didn’t really hear things pronounced aloud.]
But children also say the wrong word or phrases for things, like little junior Mrs. Maloprops, and that can be absolutely wonderful way to have a family funny saying.
One of the best ones we have? “Mom, What you need is a chardonnay.”
Before you kids could drive (and reliably drive all of us around), I used to say, “You kids have it made, because someone drives you around and you can read as much as you want. I can’t wait until you can drive so you can drive me around and I can sit and read.”
Little did I know that it would be years after you actually could drive that I would be comfortable enough reading or not gripping onto the door and periodically saying, “Slow down!” etc., like my Mom did when anyone drove her around. I inherited that unfortunate proclivity, and I’ve worked hard to not be that vocal of a passenger. Also, you kids all drive well “now”, so I don’t mind being a passenger, and I truly enjoy getting to read in the car when road conditions permit.
Anyway, the punchline to this is: One time, as we were getting into the car for yet another drive, I was saying my “you kids ….” speech, when my wonderful youngest child said, “Mom, what you need is a chardonnay.” And I said, “You know what? You’re right! I need a chardonnay.”
Obviously, said child meant to say I could benefit from a chauffeur, I need a chauffeur. I would dearly love a chauffeur, way more than a chardonnay, because I don’t drink much white wine, and I’d probably rather have a chocolate bar than a glass of wine.
Interesting/Notable:
A Dublin Pub Crawl, but Hold the Booze—(NY Times Gift Link)
This is appropriate for our Ireland travelers this week!