Aan iedereen die ‘chips’ zegt en niet ‘shit’

I have a rather neat little daughter (one who is upset when it's Saturday because then she has no school) who corrects me when I say ‘shit’. Recently, my husband had a moment in the kitchen where our dear Lord was also called upon a few times, interspersed with a few other technical terms. 'Daddy, I understand that you were a bit angry and wanted to say something,' said the little professor, 'but maybe you should just say 'chips'. When I had children, I made a few agreements with myself. That I would never talk about ‘the kids’ with my husband, that he could execute me on the spot if I called him ‘daddy‘, and that I wouldn't buy a cargo bike (although I later regretted that because it seems really handy and cozy, a bike where your whole family is crammed in. But also that I would only say ’chips’ to pieces of potato that have been in the frying fat.’

Because my daughter chips like there's no tomorrow, I sometimes catch myself saying an unexpected ‘chip’.

I forgive myself. because I only do it in front of my children, but as soon as the first chip leaves my mouth disguised as a curse among my colleagues... Then you may take me away A few days ago, a parent sent a little panic message in a group chat. My daughter read the message aloud (she does that these days) and said: 'Chips, I forgot an appointment. Can someone replace me?' I was momentarily silent. Chips? 'But you say that, right?' I asked her. Yes, she nodded obediently. I said it. Oh thank goodness, I thought, a father who consciously types the word 'chips' as a sort of oopsiedaisy in a group chat, that just couldn't exist. But my girl continued: 'I said it because it's in that message.' She was very content, but I only thought: where is the world going?.

To everyone who says ‘chips’ and not ‘shit’: Amayzine.com

Image: Lidian van Megen