
The Two Best Words In The Irish Language
Nobody quite prepares you for the terrible twos. I’m convinced that as parents we are affected by some forgetful hormone. You know the one that makes you forget how bad labour/pregnancy actually was when you look at that blue line on a stick for the second time?
The week is young. So young in fact that it’s not even technically halfway through yet. The two year old is over-achieving in the terrible two stakes this week. While I’m sure that the older boy was just as bad, sometimes it seems like his brother is ten million times worse!
Monday
Having put him to bed for a snooze, he decided to wash his hands. He let himself into the bathroom (which was in the dark as we have no window), put the plug in the sink and turned both taps on full. The first I realised was when there was a steady drip down the heat detector in the kitchen. He had a grand old time splashing away until I dashed up the stairs at lightening speed to turn everything off. The bathroom was flooded, as was the kitchen. Monday was quite literally, a wash out.
Tuesday
After a trip to Dublin city centre, his brother (aged five) was a little unwell and needed to sit in the buggy for a while. I was on my own for most of the day and the two year old decided it was a fantastic time to revisit his crawling days. He crawled a lot yesterday. On footpaths, in Dublin.
Today
As is the way with children, he is managing to crack me out in massive big smiles and belly laughs. Even though he is being a right maggot (what’s new).
As a family we speak both Gaeilge (native Irish language) and English together. The five year old decided his younger brother needed some very important words in his vocabulary and yesterday taught him the two best words in the Irish language.
Póg – Pronounced Poh-g – meaning “kiss”
This is accompanied by a cheeky glint in his eye, along with lips puckered up.
Barróg – Pronounced – Bar-oh-g – meaning “hug” or “cuddle”
He spreads his arms wide open, a massive grin on his face and proclaims he wants a hug.
Did somebody mention the terrible twos?
I can’t quite remember what they’re about…


8 Comments
Lisa
That is unbelievably cute 🙂 Just when you reach the end of your tether they always find a way to reel you back in. Definitely the best words there are in the lingo.
Wholesome Ireland
Very true. He really knows how to test me!
Aedín
Awww!Lovely!Thanks for the Irish word for cuddle.I shall be teaching that to the girls!Hope your kitchen and bathroom are alright!
Wholesome Ireland
Ah they’ll dry out. Do teach it to the girls. Xxx
Laura@raisingelves
Oh, don’t forget about the terrible 3’s. It’s more of a verbal challenge in this house. NO NO NO. I think I might be developing high blood pressure. Anyway, we are trying to introduce Gaeilge into our daily lives as herself will be going to a gaelscoil and 1st criteria is use of language at home. Husband is obsessed. I manage to slip in an agus or an uisce here or there.
You are right. They are the loveliest words in the Irish language.
Can’t wait to use them with her tomorrow.
Wholesome Ireland
Oh do! She’ll love them. Xxx
Jazzygal
Oh the ‘terrible twos’, I remember them well! The ‘terrible 14’s’ are quite interesting too 😉
Sounds like quite a week, that had such lovely moments too. Although I was holding my breath wondering what word(s) your 5 yo would add to ‘Póg’ 😀 😀 xx
Wholesome Ireland
Heehee I think we’ll hold off from teaching him about “thóin” for a while yet. 😉
I completely concur on the 14’s, soon to be 15’s. Courage mon brave!