Source: Shonda Moralis

One of the things I love about the preschool years is the sweet mispronunciations and accidental word mashups, giving me pause as I decipher what it is my soon-to-be five-year-old is attempting to convey.

The latest to come out of the little guy’s mouth: Confunctional.

[con-fuhngk-shuh-nl], adjective

Definition: A delightful combination of confusing and dysfunctional. (Disparaging but not cruel, used mostly in jest, occasionally in a fit of frustration.)

Example: This puzzle is so confunctional!

I mentioned in my last post about the fullness in our household this time of the year:

One Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle five-year-old birthday party (no girls allowed, as per the birthday boy).

One fifteen-year-old teenage girl birthday sleepover (no boys allowed, as per the parents, except for said five-year-old, who will make the occasional guest appearance, greeted like a rock star by adoring girls).

Santa Train Rides.

Christmas Parties.

Cookie Exchanges.

Etc, etc.

Not to mention an upcoming book release filled with loads of event scheduling, and publicity to ring in the New Year.

An abundance of joy and and togetherness and fun.

With lots of planning and entertaining and cleaning and whew!

Confunctional at times, indeed.

So when things start to feel like they are headed in a confunctional direction, I remind myself to pause, take a few deep breaths, and am reminded of my most basic holiday priorities: the love, the connection, the memories, and the charming, inimitable words that bring a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart.

Wishing you a wonderful, healthy, and (mostly) non-conjunctional holiday season.