The Birth of (Infantile) Humor: Part 2

As I've discussed before, we've made a point of teaching our kids the real words for things (including embarrassing anatomical parts), rather than using baby talk.

I had hoped this would give Elliot a certain degree of maturity — and unlike me, he wouldn't giggle when he heard these kinds of words.

Well, it seems like the giggling is inevitable.

The other day Elliot and I were looking at Alice's "Winnie the Pooh" book.

On one page, Roo is giving peanuts to a baby elephant.

"Why is he doing that?" Elliot asked.

"Because elephants like to eat peanuts."

Elliot started laughing.

"Why are you laughing?" I asked.

"Penis."

"I said, 'peanuts.'"

He kept laughing.

"Why would it be funny if I had said 'penis'?"

"Because you can't eat a penis."

Oh.

I guess that is kind of funny.