Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I'm Going to Count to Three

Why is it that when I get stern with my children that I do it in cliches? As in . . .

  • "What is with the attitude, buddy?"
  • "Did you hear me?"
  • "What did I say?"
  • "What did I just tell you?"
  • "Do you want to go to your room?"
  • "One, two . . . "
And on, and on . . . It is only with great strength--and perhaps partly because I teach critical thinking courses--that I have avoided saying, "Because I said so."

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, you're a better woman than I, who blurted out "Because I am The Mom" this morning. Just ran out of other things to say...maybe it doesn't count since I didn't say "said so" in there? Sigh.

Good Enough Woman said...

Ink, that's totally different than "Because I said so"! I have definitely said things like "because I'm your mom and it's my job to say/do these things." Yes, it's a bit tautological, but it does seem to offer SOME grounds.

Naptimewriting said...

blurted out an unattractive guffaw at the first line and nodded in agreement the rest of the post.

I've used 'em all. Lately it seems like all I say is, "What did I just say?"

What about "Wait 'til your father gets home" and "Someday I hope you have a child just like you." I still haven't used those and hope I don't. But I'm not making any promises today...

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

While I don't have children to practice Phrases of Authority on, I did have some 70 middle-school students not too long ago. And the versions of my parents that came out of my mouth during that time shocked me. Not necessarily in a good way.

I did get a kick out of baffling a student who kept pestering me for a pass to the nurse for a "stomach ache" (he was trying to get out of class so he could wander the halls). "Are you exsanguinating?" I asked him.

Uncertain look. "Uh ... no?"

"Good! That means it's nothing serious."

Academic, Hopeful said...

I am sure (when and if I breed), I will be licking my finger and wiping rubbish off my kid's face in no time. I hear my sister bringing out the vintage mum comments all the time. She will look at me afterwards with this expression of "I know, I never thought I would either." On the other hand, she sometimes pulls out decidedly post-90s comments, like "you know what? I can live with that right now" (in response to her 5 year old saying he doesn't like her because she won't let him have more sweets). It's a bit disorientating for everyone and I think the classics are where it's at.

Dr. No said...

Do you do the middle name thing too? To this day, anytime anyone uses my full name I assume I am in trouble...

Good Enough Woman said...

AH, My daughter HATES it when I lick my finger and wipe her face. Perhaps I should start washing her face with a cloth BEFORE we get in the car . . .

Dr. No, I have not used the middle name thing. Maybe because my mom didn't do that one? My three year thinks of her middle name as her special princess name, as if I gave her a middle name for the express purpose of enhancing her fantasy life.

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

Special princess name! I love it!

Anonymous said...

I want a princess name!!!

Good Enough Woman said...

Ink, Roo has some made up names too. She's particularly fond of Caleensa for her pretend princess friends (stress on the second syllable). Perhaps you'd like that one?