I find myself saying certain things that, in the future, when they are adults, I’m sure my kids will remember and make fun of. My own personal idioms. Keep in mind that these phrases are spoken in a lighthearted, casual tone. I’m not angry or snippy when I say this stuff (okay – MOST of the time.) So. Here’s stuff I say a LOT.
“Yo. Pretend I’m your mother and that you respect me.” (When I’ve asked a kid to do something one too many times.)
“Is that working for you? Cause it’s not really working for me.” (In the middle of a tantrum.)
“Handle it differently, please.” (most recently, this is being said to PinkGirl when her first response is to yell at someone – usually her brother – when she perceives herself a victim of something “unfair.” Also said to FavoriteSon when he reacts to the yelling.)
“It’s not grace when you give it that way.” (Said when someone makes a “sacrifice” or “compromise” for another, but in the process, makes sure everyone knows how put out they are by doing it.)
“Solve your problem.” (In response to whining, complaining or having a fit.)
“What do you git, when you have a fit?” (answer? “nothin.”)
“Will you be complaining all day?” (Self-evident. I asked PinkGirl this question yesterday and she flippantly replied, “Pretty much.” I am so proud!)
“Don’t eat it.” (Deadpan response when a kid – ANY kid, says they see something yucky or gross. OFTEN said when a kid says they see a bug or lizard, but also when they say the see dog poop, rotten food in a forgotten lunch box, a cat hairball . . . you get the idea.)
“Are you done yet? How bout now? Now? What about now?” (This one is just fun. It can be used in the middle of a tantrum, when a kid is complaining about something or even when they are just thinking about something.)
“Leave no trace.” (Picked this one up from cub scouts. I say it when I see a kid’s stuff – aka “path of destruction” – dumped in the common living areas.)
“Isn’t it annoying that you had to stop (playing/watching tv/doing something fun) and come back and (do that/pick that up/put that away)? If you had (done it/picked it up/put it away) before, you wouldn’t have to do it now. You could still be (playing/watching tv/doing something fun).” (oh. they are getting TIRED of this one.)
“Good enough isn’t good enough.” (I rarely finish this sentence. I usually say, “Good enough . . . ” and the kids finish it in that “alright, already” tone of voice, while rolling their eyes.)
“Sometimes it’s not enough to do your best, sometimes you have to do what’s required.” (Got this one from Winston Churchill.)
Mom, can I . . . (something ridiculous – or ridiculously expensive)? “Yes” “REALLY?” “No.” (PinkGirl recently asked me if I would buy her the Barbie Mariposa doll. I said “Yes” and she looked at me and said. “I’m not fallin for it.”)
This was fun! I may make a page and keep adding to this.
What about you? What will your children remember and imitate when they are grown, sitting around the Thanksgiving table, doing the “do you remember . . . ” thing? What will they say to their kids? What do you remember hearing from your parents – over and over and over . . . ?”
If you have more than a comment’s worth of examples and happen to write a post on your own personal idioms, include a link to your post in a comment here! I know I would love to read it! I might even discover some new things to repeatedly say to my kids.
You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit.
Seriously?
I don’t speak whine.
I have more but I am supposed to be paying attention in my History class but we are talking about ancient Mesopotamia and I am bored….UGH!
Baaaaah! I love those. I might have to steal them and convince my children I’m brilliant in my own right.
One of our family favorites is “I’ve got the worlds LARGEST Violin…” and then we hold our arms out really wide and start playing the violin. It is so much more dramatic than the worlds smallest violin. lol We liked being dramatic at times.
My husband hates this one – “would you like to help me?” Would you like to take out the trash, do the dishes, pick up your socks, etc” He used to think he could answer NO to this question.
When I was a kid this was a constant… “You may cry all you want, but I don’t want to hear a sound.” We could make a sound for the first minute and after that we got this statement.
That’s all I can think of right now.
I love your list, and will definitely be using some of them. My kids with be forever grateful to you!!!
In our house we love to say to the kids
“Build a bridge….and get over it!” with appropriate hand signals. The most irritating thing of all, is that they know we heard it on their fav program – Hannah Montana!
Another one of my dh is “Learning curve….” he never needs to say more, as they are so bored with his explanation of learning curves.
My classic, courtesy of my own mum, is “This is not an hotel, you know!” which is the one thing I promised myself I would never say to my kids. It is true…..I have become my mother.
And my dad? When we started quarelling as kids, he would start to sing “Some Enchanted Evening” from the musical South Pacific – we would all unite in begging him to stop, and forgot to fight!
Your kids are going to love me, almost as much as my kids are going to love your and your sayings!
Looking forward to using some of them soon 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR LIST.
I use “Try before you cry” about 100 times a day. And “How did that work out for you?”
Oh, and “would you like to pick that up? or would you like me to?”
(When I pick it up it goes straight to the trash, or if it un-trashable, I bill them for my time, and I am VERY expensive.)
I’m going to work on my list right now. I need a blog post. Thanks for the idea.