A Mom’s Favorite Phrases!!

I didn’t realize that when I became a Mom, I would have to learn to speak in another language in order to get my kids’ attention.  I watched from a distance as relatives and neighbors raised their kids one by one, didn’t seem like a big deal to me, until there were TWO.

This type of free-wheelin’ attitude soon disappeared.  In it’s place came the repetitive warnings of doom, the pie chart. As my kids entered the “Smart Mouth Orbit,” these phrases became a part of our everyday hell existence.

A.)  STOP FIGHTING! These two little words own a large part of the pie chart.  I am in awe at how much I say this and how much it does no good at all. To my kids, the sound of my voice has become like a pesky mosquito buzzing around their heads, they just want the buzzing to go away.

B.)  KNOCK IT OFF!  This phrase also ranks high, though it means nothing to my kids. This one is used a lot at home, in the car, in Target, the grocery store, pretty much anywhere the cave people are at the same time. It is also used on the dogs and has about the same effect.

C.)  USE YOUR FORK!  I don’t have a clue as to why I even taught my kids to eat with utensils. I catch them eating pasta with their fingers, scrambled eggs, but the worse one is when they eat corn, one tiny niblet at a time with their grimy little fingers. It really drives me up the wall. 

D.)  DO YOUR HOMEWORK!  OK, you would think by fourth grade, they would both know that homework is to be done before free-time. Not in our house, there is chorus line dancing, and singing, juggling, anything to throw Mom and Dad off track and forget about the homework.  And at our age, senior moments are abundant!

E.)  GO TO BED, NOW!  I really love this one, this is when all the excuses come alive. This is the second “witching hour” at our house. We hear excuses like:

“I’m scared to go in my room, it’s dark!” 

“Can I please just start reading this 495-page book?”

“I’m hungry!”

“I can’t find my retainer.”