Township Man's Book Is a Must for Parents

As a parent, did you ever feel the need for a new word to describe kids’ behavior?

Eric Ruhalter of Morris Township felt that need and met it by writing The KidDictionary.

Ruhalter calls himself a ‘lexiconnoisseur,” a made-up word meaning, apparently, a connoisseur of words.

His webpage states: “People with children in their lives to any degree have a profound need for words not found in the dictionary.”

He doesn’t mean words kids make up themselves, like the secret language of twins or classic mispronunciations of small children (pizghetti, puddytat). He means the words parents, caretakers and other adults need to describe some of the odder things that happen around children.

The examples used on the webpage include “wishjack-to blow out the candles on another kid’s birthday cake” and “sponge-bogged-the inability to record a movie because the DVR is full of kids’ shows.”

His studies in economics at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., convinced Ruthalter his is not in the least interested in the theories and principles of economics. Ruthalter works in television in New York City and, according to the webpage, “lives with his wife, Kara, their three children and two cats who will not stay off the dining room table no matter what Eric says or does to them.”

The KidDictionary is available for $9.99 at bookstores or on Amazon.com.