Dear Martha & Grant: I listen to your program often (and often in the car while running errands, due to which I often hear only portions) and enjoy it. I heard what I think was an "encore presentation" on Saturday 5/31/08 and have a suggestion for Grant's call for suggestions for what to call the dear ones in the charge of a babysitter. My suggestion is "SITLINGS". It is obviously similar to SIBLING, with its familial denotation, and seems friendlier than "care-ees", less perjorative than "kidlets" (which sounds like even smaller kids), and less scary than "para-spawn". It also seems to me that the meaning of this obviously made up word is fairly intuitive, the SIT part implying its meaning to one who has never heard it before. This response leapt to my mind immediately, and I hereby offer it for your consideration. Sincerely, Doug Valmore, Indianapolis, Indiana.
P.S. My parents had a term for a beloved little tyke when I was growing up, the derivation of which completely eludes me, which was "MUCKET".
I like "sitlings" - it's clever and cute. I call my own kids "bub" or "bubs" for one or both, respectively. I've taken to referring to all kids that way. It can be used for a boy or girl and I think that it is sweet without being sticky. The derivation of bubs is as follows: Many years ago, I lived in France. One of my friends had a baby and she called him "le babilou". When I had my first son, I adopted it without thinking but Americanized it into something closer to "bubbaloo". Both my husband and I morph it into various forms: bubbalubbas, baboo, bub or bubs, bubba, babaloo...the options are many. But I do refer to my children in conversation with other people as such. For example, "I've got to go pick up my bubs." Yah, just my own goofy bubbatalk.
Hello -- In reply to the word for babysitter's charges. I first thought of "endear"-lings, to convey how much one cares for these little tykes.
I like the suffix of -lings, so "sitlings" works well also.
How about the word "babysits," as in "these are my babysits"?
I thought of calling them "My cool little Charges” or “Charges who are like my Children” or just my “Chargers” to give them a boost and you and the others something to talk about!
dougv said:
Dear Martha & Grant: I listen to your program often (and often in the car while running errands, due to which I often hear only portions) and enjoy it. I heard what I think was an “encore presentation” on Saturday 5/31/08 and have a suggestion for Grant's call for suggestions for what to call the dear ones in the charge of a babysitter. My suggestion is “SITLINGS”. It is obviously similar to SIBLING, with its familial denotation, and seems friendlier than “care-ees”, less perjorative than “kidlets” (which sounds like even smaller kids), and less scary than “para-spawn”. It also seems to me that the meaning of this obviously made up word is fairly intuitive, the SIT part implying its meaning to one who has never heard it before. This response leapt to my mind immediately, and I hereby offer it for your consideration. Sincerely, Doug Valmore, Indianapolis, Indiana.
P.S. My parents had a term for a beloved little tyke when I was growing up, the derivation of which completely eludes me, which was “MUCKET”.
I thought of calling them your “Cool little Charges” or “Charges like my Children” or my “Chargers” to give them a boost!