It's 5:30 am. Why am I awake? The kids are sleeping. B.B. Has slept exceptionally well tonight. Not me. I needed a drink and now I can't go back to bed. Maybe I should've had something stronger than Sprite. Oh, well. I can always chat with you instead.
I had been asleep about an hour last night when I heard a scream in the kitchen. "Daddy!!" As usual it took a few minutes (and 2 more screams) before I realized what was happening (I don't wake up well). It was #1 Son looking for his dad. Husband was due to arrive home any minute so I escorted him back to bed and told him if he'd wait there his dad would be in in a minute. I guess it worked because I didn't hear anything else out of him. And I went back to sleep pretty quickly.
#1 Son has a new favorite phrase. I'm none too happy about it. As we were climbing out of the van at church Sunday he got angry and said, "Dammit!" I just looked at Husband and we both thought, "This could be a fun Sunday!" So far he's confined his cursing to home, but I know it's coming. We'll be in the check out line at Wal-Mart or he'll say it during Children's Minute at church (when they're standing in front of the entire congregation).
It started with that stupid video game Husband played for 5 hours one night. It was another night, but he got frustrated and mumbled The Deplorable Word (to borrow a phrase from C.S. Lewis). #1 Son was sitting on the floor by Husband and said, "Daddy, why you say dammit?" Husband's eyes got real big around and he said he was sorry and it wasn't a nice thing to say. #1 Son didn't say anything else and we naively thought that was the end of it.
No such luck. He said it a few days later while working on his puzzles. We talked about how it wasn't nice, but didn't make a big deal about it. He didn't say it again until Inkling came to visit. Then he said it repeatedly. I think it was the thrill of a new audience.
We keep having quiet, gentle conversations about why we shouldn't use those words. He always apologizes and says, "Me no say that again." Maybe someday it'll sink in.
In the meantime I need to get a copy of the book David Gets in Trouble. There's a picture of David with a bar of soap in his mouth. The caption says, "But Daddy says it!" (Although I've probably said it in a moment of complete frustration so I can't lay the blame entirely at Husband's feet... As much as I'd like to!)
7 comments:
Have you seen "A Christmas Story"? This somehow reminded me of that.
I love that movie (sorry, Needlefingers). Blindness caused by life bouy... how can you not laugh?
I'd send you the book "David Gets In Trouble" but it is a favorite in this house (that and "No David"). We have come to the realization that yes, I sound an awful lot like David's mother ("Stop that this instant!") and The Princess sounds quite a bit like David ("I didn't mean to...").
#1 Grandson is just carrying on a family tradition.
Grandpa M&M tells the story of his baby girl using it on him. She was about the same age as #1 Grandson is now.
Once, years ago I was in the kitchen with Grandma M&M,when she had reached the end of her rope,and she announced that she was getting ready to say danm.I was shocked, but couldn't wait to see her halo slip. After several minutes I ask her if she was going to say it and she said"say what" I reminded her of her announcement to which she said "well I said it" meaning the use of damn in the announcement. I have to admit that at the time I was disappointed, her haol never slipped.
My youngest grands think "stupid" and "shut-up" are bad words. My granddaughter gets such a look of indignation on her face when she hears them on a cartoon. But I catch my youngest grandson muttering them under his breath when he thinks I'm not listening.
He better hope his sister doesn't hear either. She'd turn him in for sure.
P.S. I love the "David" books. The illustrations alone are priceless.
That's okay. I still like you. ;) It's Pilot's favorite.
Oooooooh Cate, The Princess gets SO mad at me if I say "stupid". I don't know who ever told her it was a "bad" word - but it's actually pretty obnoxious to have a 3 year old say, "Mommy, we don't SAY 'stupid'!" ; )
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