Teen speak: A language all it's own

Teen language these days. Who can understand it? Lol, yolo, yoyo, omg, rofl and the list goes on.

Apparently lol means "laugh out loud" and yolo is "you only live once." I'll refrain from teaching any others today as this isn't school and I highly doubt any intelligent adult would volunteer to speak this way. Unless, of course, you're a "cool" parent which I blindly believe I am. So, when I foolishly think it's the appropriate moment, and with my child's friends present of course, I whip out some witty turn of phrase from the list above. For some reason the acronyms don't sound as cool when I use them. Ikr?

In any case, one would think the trendy verbiage is only for texting. This, to me, would make sense as often words and conversations need to be abbreviated. Not according to my 16-year-old daughter. She has informed me that there is no real rhyme or reason. In her words, "this is just how we talk because we're awesome like that. Yolo." She says this with a smile and it makes even herself laugh.

My daughter and her friends have clued me in on what all of these phrases mean and I have, in turn, done my best to fill my boyfriend in who thinks it's all Japanese. (This is where I think "lol" would be appropriate. Maybe? Oh, Idk). Yet, per my 16-year-old, somehow my boyfriend is still cooler than mom over here. Again...lol. (If you're reading this, jk, honey.) I think that means just kidding.

Meanwhile, my daughter's father thinks he's a cool dad and that he has his baby girl's lingo down pat. Um, no. Picture a 37-year-old man spouting off, "Yolo, Home Skillet." Hmm...think he's kind of mixed some of his own language with hers. Rofl. (I think that's when you laugh so hard you hit the floor or something, and if so, completely appropriate).

Oh well, I may not be as cool as the kids these days, but I'm ok with that. I'm also perfectly fine with letting my girl feel free to be herself and speak her own language. As crazy as it seems, I even enjoy listening to the 2K teen vernacular and watching my kiddo's accompanying facial expressions. She and her friends make me laugh and most definitely keep my life entertaining. I am one blessed momma right here.