Where Did My Words Go?

As a mom, I'm used to misplacing things, or more likely having things I've placed moved by a small person that little old ladies in any store, ever, like to call "little helpers".  I'm relatively certain they are responsible for my newest "missing" article - but it's a hard one to pin on them...  my words are missing.

I found something I'd written a decade ago, nothing of importance, except that it was pre-kid and it was amazing.  Complex thoughts combined intelligently in a series of sentences that used words I don't even remember knowing.  I had to look twice to make sure I really did write it. 

These days, I get a little edgy when it's time to practice the weekly vocab with my 3rd grader.  Sure I know what the words mean but can I define them?  I'm lucky to be able to string a verbal sentence together without an awkward pause or the words "thingy" and "stuff".  What happened?!

I read, I work, I communicate with grown people on a daily basis and even though my poor, tired brain has been steeped in baby babble for the last 7.5 years, I should still be able to communicate like an educated person... yet, no.

I can almost feel the words I used to know wiggling in my brain.  Like a caterpillar just about to emerge as a butterfly.  When I'm trying to use them in conversation, I know they're in there... they're a whisper I can't quite hear.  I just can't catch them.  Where did my words go?  I wonder if years of reading children's books, followed by sleepless nights, has caused the smart parts of my brain to lock themselves in a safe room until the onslaught of Dr. Suess and Pete the Cat subside.  Every once in a while a good word will slip out (re: see "onslaught" above), but when that happens I just think the ol' gray matter is testing the waters.  A little "If we let you have your brain back, will you use it properly?" trial period. No Brain, not yet. It's fall/winter/spring kid sickness season now, we won't sleep right until March, don't expect too much on the intellectual front.

Should I care that I need to nod and smile when someone is raving or ranting about their amazing... (what's a good word like adventure... but not really adventure... we'll just go with...) thingy... raving or ranting about their thingy with words I no longer know?  Excuse me, I speak mommy now, can you please keep it to words with less than six letters and make it rhyme?

I debated on investing in a word of the day calendar to try to sound interesting again, but considering it's the middle of October and my monthly calendar still says September, I believe that may be a waste of money. 

So bear with me, as I rely on my kids' weekly vocab lessons to rebuild my vocabulary 10 words at a time and if I look confused when you explain something that doesn't include counting shapes or feature talking animals, just dumb it on down to "thingy" and "stuff" and I'll try to catch up!