Sometimes, words fail to describe the insanity that it is parenting. Your kid does a deep dive into their diaper and smears poop on the wall. They drink out of the dog’s water bowl or draw all over their baby sibling (and with Sharpie, to boot). When you can’t even comprehend the craziness, (let alone explain it), Eric Ruhalter is coming to the rescue. The author of The Kid Dictionary: Hilarious Words to Describe the Indescribable Things Kids, Ruhalter knows all-too-well what you’re going through and is helping parents know exactly what to say.
Your book introduces made-up words that capture the chaos of parenting. What inspired you to create these words?
Well, parenting is such a wild ride, and sometimes the English language just doesn’t have the right words to fully capture the experience. So, I started making up words that fit the hilarious and often exhausting realities parents face every day.
Can you share some of your favorite words from the book?
Absolutely! One of my favorites is “Snackcident”—when your child drops an entire bag of snacks all over the floor. Another one is “Poonami,” which describes those catastrophic diaper blowouts that defy all logic and containment.
Those are great! How did you come up with these words?
A lot of them came from real-life experiences. My kids, like most, were constant sources of inspiration. Every time something ridiculous happened, I’d think, “There has to be a word for this!” And when there wasn’t, I made one up.
What’s a word from the book that really resonates with parents?
“Momnesia” is a big one—it’s when a parent forgets something important because their brain is overloaded with a million other things. Every parent I’ve talked to has laughed and said, “Oh, I have that!”
Do you think humor helps parents navigate the challenges of raising kids?
Absolutely! If you don’t laugh, you might cry! Parenting is hard, but finding humor in the little moments makes it so much more enjoyable. This book is really about giving parents permission to laugh at the craziness and know they’re not alone.
Have you received any feedback from parents who’ve read your book?
Oh, yes! I get messages all the time from parents saying, “This is my life!” or “I thought I was the only one who dealt with this!” It’s been really fun to see how people connect with the words and share their own hilarious parenting stories.