I’m not sure from where they picked it up, but for months, when the girls have been playing at make-believe as babies, they’ve been saying, “Goo-goo, ga-ga,” (as no real baby has ever said).

Then, one day a few weeks ago, I heard them outside on the porch calling one another goo-goo ga-ga heads, and cracking each other up. It was pretty funny. Also a rare time they were genuinely getting along, which is always great to see.

Then, last Monday we picked up some library books after our weekly story hour outing. One was called Myrtle, and as we sat down to read it, we discovered, to our delight, there was a character in the book named Frances. 

Turns out a few pages into the story we learned, much to our horror, that Frances was a mean bully. Our Frances, being the sensitive spirit she is, immediately disliked the book upon hearing that she was so naughty. At least that was her interpretation.

“No like it, mama. No read it,” she said,  with a serious frown, and kept trying to shut the book. Of course, I found this to be hysterical. I did put away the book though.

Two days later Nora asked to read the book again. I told Nora to choose another story because we didn’t want to hurt Frances’s feelings again. 

Nora looked disappointed, and then quickly suggested that instead of reading the name Frances, we simply substitute a different name. 

After I told her this plan was a great idea, I asked Nora to tell me a name to use instead. She thought for a moment and then broke into a huge grin.

“How about Goo-goo Ga-ga Head?” she said.

“OK. Goo-goo Ga-ga Head it is,” I said.

I then proceeded to read the book, and each place I saw the name Frances, I read Goo-goo Ga-ga Head instead.

When Myrtle and her little brother went outside, Goo-goo Ga-ga Head sang mean songs and played mean tricks.

Genius.

Nearly every single time I said Goo-goo Ga-ga Head, Frances and I erupted into serious giggles. Nora just smiled and chuckled a little. I think she regretted the idea, wanting instead to just get on with the telling of the story.

Apparently, Nora’s far more mature than Frances and me. I mean, she’s more mature than Goo-goo Ga-ga Head and me. Go figure.