November 18, 2008

Question of the Day

Leave it to kids to make you painfully aware of how much about the world you don't know. Astronomy, world history, philosophy, nature, medical mysteries.....you name it and I've been asked about it. Today my daughter asked me,"why do they say something is 'brand-new'? What if it's generic, can it still be brand new? Where did that word come from mom?"

Hmmm....I'm a college graduate and consider myself an intelligent person, how could this nugget of knowledge escape me? So, thank the Lord for Google, I distracted her long enough to find the answer. Thus perpetuating the myth of the all-knowing mom. I just wanted to pass this along in case any other mom out there is posed with the same question.

"brand-new" adj


1. Completely new.


Etymology: 16c, from brand (ie like bright new metal just taken out of the fire).


There you have it. Now here's my question-how did our moms survive without Google and Wikipedia?


Oh, and please don't ask me what "brand-spanking new" means, I haven't googled it yet! :)


22 comments:

Melinda said...

My mom's response would've been, "Go ask your father." (lol)

Debbie said...

I learned a long time ago to just say, "Oh honey. I don't know. You're so much smarter than me." Which is true, of course.

sassy stephanie said...

How in the world DID our parents do it? I live on Google.

Thanks for sharing in my SITS day with me!

Dee said...

my mom came from the school of thought where it was okay to tell you kid to " go ask your teacher, what do I look like? " your a good mom.

Anonymous said...

OMG I was thinking to myself, how on earth did our Mom's make it without google?! TOO FUNNY!

The Rambler said...

just visiting from SITS...love your blog!

When I tell my daughter Encyclopedias and the library were the places of research, she'll probably not believe me :) I don't know if I could go back to that time!

Anonymous said...

LOL Thanks for that tidbit ;) and thanks for stopping by and saying hello!

Anonymous said...

Annnnd thanks for following me too! ;)

Anonymous said...

I think they used to say, "I'm busy right now, sweety. Go ask your father."

Anonymous said...

Very cute! It's painful when you don't know the answer to something you never knew you'd be asked. My daughter once asked what rhymed with silver - oh, the pain!

Knit Purl Gurl said...

I always say, "New to you.." if it's re-gifted or used.. {{Giggles}}

This Crazy Thing Called Motherhood said...

Oh I LOVE google and wikipedia...I always doing searches on stuff.

Abounader Photography said...

Thats so funny because I use wikipedia and google for that every day for my own stupid questions. I can't wait for my son to ask me stupid questions too! hehehe

Parent Club said...

This is my first visit to your site and I've already fav'd it.

You must be a google-kindred-spirit.

Rhea said...

I love the name of your blog. I saw your comment on SITS today and had to come say hi.

Your daughter had a great question! I'm constantly aware of how much I've forgotten or don't know when my kids ask me questions...and trying to help them with their homework especially. :o)

Gotta love Google.

jmt said...

Visiting from SITS since you were the first roll caller. :) It's amazing how much you re-learn helping the kids with homework. I, for one, am a nerd and have enjoyed doing multiplication and division, and figuring out ways to teach it. (seriously a nerd, I know).

MaricrisG said...

Thank Heavens for google! A lot of our student these days uses google now than your old reliable dictionary! Talk about high-tech kids!

Mama Wheaton said...

Kids are how our brains stay functioning.

ParentingPink said...

Whew! Thanks, you saved me! Now I know the full meaning of "brand new" in case my 5 year old asks! LOL

Erin said...

LOL- so funny! What did our moms do w/o the internet??

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

I can't imagine a life without Dr. Google!

Casey's trio said...

How funny! What did we do before we had the internet? I can't imainge surviving without it:0