Top Ten Things I Do That Annoy N

10. Groove to the music on his radio station pick when we’re in the car.
9. Make him wear pants rather than shorts if the high for the day is predicted to be below 70 F.
8. Watch Supernanny because he’s afraid I’ll get tips on childrearing.
7. Refuse to serve tortellini with pesto for every meal.
6. Root for the Chicago Cubs.
5. Hug him in front of his friends.
4. Pick him up too early or too late from after school care.
3. Don’t cheer enough at his games.
2. Cheer too much at his games.

And, the number one thing that I do that annoys N:
1. Talk with my Southern accent, particularly when I say “peach pie.”

It is an absolute sure thing that I will annoy N anytime I drop my out-in-public-put-on-the-façade-“normal” voice and let the Southern accent creep in. Sometimes I do it on purpose just to rile him up, but most of the time it happens when (1) I’m too tired to think about it and let my guard down, (2) I’m around others with a Southern accent, or (3) there are just certain words I struggle to say without the accent, like “pie” or “darlin’” or “sweet tea.”