The kid's got a point.

This morning-

Maria- What are those little purple flowers under that tree?

Me- I think those are phlox.

Maria. laughing- As in flocks of sheep?

Me- Well, yeah, but it's spelled differently. The flowers are "phlox", p-h-l-o-x. The sheep are "flocks", f-l-o-c-k-s.

Maria, rolling her eyes sideways at me- So, you really don't think spelling is stupid?