Tag Archives: inverse square

It is the second weekend of the month and time again for a new word to live. This is a word or phrase not currently in use in the U.S. English lexicon, but might need to be considered. Other words, such as obsurd, crumpify, subsus, flib, congressed, and others, can be found by clicking on the tags below. This month’s New Word is related to aging and being a parent: law of the inverse square.

Inverse-square law = In physics, this means the further you stand from an electromagnetic source (For example, light), the less radiation you will receive? That depends on how far from the source you stand. If you stand two feet further back from where you were, you will receive ¼ th the amount. If you stand six feet back, you will receive 1/36th the amount.

Law of the inverse square = the further you get from your childhood in terms of age and maturity (at least to some degree), the more you will start sounding like at least one of your parents. This can be in tone of voice, mannerisms, phrases, and temperament. In this case, the further away in time you travel, the more pronounced these things become. You become the “square” (parent) you promised yourself you wouldn’t be when you grew up, particularly the stern side of your parents. The law giver

For example, as your child grows up and asks the 20th time why something has to be done, you snap back with the same tone and inflection as your father, “Because I said so.”

Or, if you’re a mother, you give your child “the look,” which was the same look your mother gave you.

Training is not required. It happens, in an eerie, secretive, delayed genetic development sort of way.