We’ve been married 12 years and have 3 kids under age 5.

We find ourselves at a weird place in our relationship where we communicate by spelling out approximately 49% of our words.  As in:

Me:  “Did you H-I-D-E the R-I-F-L-E under the changing table?”

Him:  “Yes.”

He and I both know that it’s a toy rifle, not a real one. And that the reason it is hidden is because our 4-year-old, who will soon be looking for it, tends to get a little overzealous in its usage. Our new language suffices, and nothing else has to be said.