So, I moved recently. And my new neighborhood is full of kids. I met about 20 of them the day I moved in because they helped me chase down my dog when he got loose and I can already tell you, me and these kids are gonna be besties. They come over to play with my dogs at least once a day. A few little convos we’ve had so far:
(On the day we met)
6yo: My name Kendrick but you can call me KJ cause my friends call me KJ and you my friend now.
~
KJ: I’ll walk your dogs for 5$!
Me: Imma think about it, okay?
KJ: Ok ok, 3$!! But that’s the lowest imma go. What a deal right?!?!
~
9yo: You know my Mama’s got a boyfriend.
Me: That’s nice!
9yo: My grandmama don’t like him cause he ain’t got a job.
Me: Oh.
9yo: Do you got a job?
Me: Yeah.
9yo: *screaming across the yard* GRANDMAMA!! THIS GIRL GOT A JOB!
(I might be her new stepmom, y’all. Idk)
~
12 yo: You ain’t got a man?
Me: Nope.
12 yo: You got a woman?
Me: Nope.
12 yo: It’s just you and these dogs?
Me: Yep.
12 yo: Girllllll! You living the life!
~
9yo: *banging on my back door* HEY!! Open the door!!
Me: *opening the door, freaking out* OMG! WHATS WRONG!
9yo: Nothing. You got a popsicle?
Me: Ummmm…no.
9yo: You want one?
Me:???
9yo: *pulls a popsicle from behind her back* I think you need this.
real talk tho, i actually have a strategy for this. it was my wife’s idea. the key is to change your default association with the name. that way, instead of automatically thinking of it as your deadname, you think of it as something else’s name, ideally something you like.
what I did was start a new game on Pokémon Omega Ruby and give my starter, mudkip, my deadname. after many hours of play time, whenever i hear or see my deadname, i think of my beloved mudkip, now grown into a handsome, strong swampert.
if pokémon isn’t ur thing, i think the same strategy could be adapted to a pet or a stuffed animal. just a thought.
