As parents, there are times when we pause and think, “Did I really just say that?” Even more surprising is realizing that these are often the same phrases our parents used, ones we vowed we’d never repeat. But here we are—never say never. Most of us have probably let slip at least one of these classic lines at some point in our parenting journey.
- “Who’s the adult here: Me or you?” Variations include: “Who calls the shots?”, “I’m the one in charge,” and “You don’t get to boss me around!” If you find yourself saying any of these, it’s likely you’re already losing the argument and might need a little parental break. Sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves that we’re supposed to be in control, especially when it feels like the kids are running the show 92.843% of the time.
- “Do you want me to turn this car around right now?” Sure, because after the two-hour struggle of getting everyone bundled and buckled, you’re really going to turn the car around. Not a chance!
- “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” Okay, and rainbows don’t really spit out Skittles, either. Can’t we just say “No, not today” without diving into financial lessons? Every child knows that money magically appears on Mommy’s debit card, right?
- “You need to wear clean underwear every day.” This is often said while we might be lounging in the same yoga pants from yesterday—and perhaps even the day before.
- “Want some cheese with that whine?” Umm, maybe? Is it mozzarella? Everyone loves cheese! But let’s be real: punny jokes don’t usually resonate with kids under three feet tall. Your older ones might not get it either unless they’ve been frequenting wine and cheese nights, which—let’s face it—probably isn’t happening.
- “We’ll see…” No child on the planet believes this means anything other than “I’m not ready to say no, so ask me later when I’ve thought of a better excuse.”
- “Finish your peas. There are kids starving in Africa.” Will those children stop being hungry if Junior cleans his plate? Is there some scientific proof that guilt helps veggies go down better?
- “If you don’t pick up your toys, I’m going to throw them away.” Good luck with that threat. We all know you spent a pretty penny on those toys, and it’s not going to happen, especially since you’ve said it a million times before.
- “Your face is going to freeze like that!” or “You’d better pick up that bottom lip before you trip over it!” While these warnings are far from possible, they continue to be popular threats against the pouty face.
- “Go ask your Dad/Mom.” Just like point six, this is a classic way of saying “I don’t want to deal with this” and shifting the responsibility to your partner.
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In summary, we all find ourselves repeating lines we swore we wouldn’t. From threats of turning the car around to the classic money spiel, these phrases often slip out in moments of frustration or exasperation. Parenting is a learning curve, and sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves. For those interested in pregnancy topics, this resource is excellent for further information. And for those planning to enjoy amusement park rides during pregnancy, this guide can be quite helpful.