Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
I hear a lot of people say their kids don’t listen.
You know, you’re at the grocery store and you overhear an exasperated parent say, "Well, if you were listening to me," or "Can you just listen to me, please."
Either I’m one of those parents, or on the odd chance I’m not, I’m immediately sympathizing with the parent, who has likely repeated themselves to their child a minimum of four times before the child acknowledges that the parent is speaking.
I quite often accuse the monkey of not listening. It’s probably my biggest complaint of parenthood.
It turns out, however, that I may be wrongly accusing my daughter of not listening at times.
My little monkey has become the "Manners Police," the "Bad Words Police," and the "You-already-told-me-that Police."
The last one really kills me. If I remind her about something that I’m sure she hasn’t been listening to me or hearing me, and she sort of snaps back with "I know, Mommy. You already told me that like 10 times."
I have two responses when she says this. I either have to stifle a laugh or leave the room to let out a frustrated "Argh!"
Then I tell her not to talk to her mother that way and explain that if she had acknowledged that I was speaking to her the first 10 times, I wouldn’t have reminded her.
I have a feeling that this battle will be never ending.
She is also suddenly Miss Manners, which the better half and I are quite pleased with. Our child may misbehave at times, but she knows her manners and will be polite about it.
And she now makes sure we are also mindful of our manners.
"Pass me the butter."
"Daddy, it’s can you please pass me the butter."
She is especially on top of us for any "bad" words. I admit a time or two an actual bad word has slipped out of mine or the better half’s mouth when you stub your toe or something similar.
Well, the monkey’s right there, practically writing a ticket. And unfortunately she repeats the word we’ve said with acute punctuation.
"Mommy you said .... You know that .... is a bad word and you shouldn’t say ..."
She’s good at the "not-nice" words too. Dumb or stupid or crappy or fat and the such are big no-no’s in our house and we’re in trouble if one accidently makes it into conversation.
I am glad I don’t have one of those "quarter jars" we had as kids. It’s not that I make a habit of saying anything like that, but between the better half and me, the jar might fill up a little quicker.
So next time I accuse my monkey of not listening, I better watch what I say.
Because even when I think she isn’t, she is listening — and she’ll sure let me know about it later!
Kyla Henderson is a local freelance journalist, business owner and mommy. Her column runs every week in the Community News.
» kyla@lilbitbaby.ca
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition April 12, 2012
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I hear a lot of people say their kids don’t listen.
You know, you’re at the grocery store and you overhear an exasperated parent say, "Well, if you were listening to me," or "Can you just listen to me, please."
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I hear a lot of people say their kids don’t listen.
You know, you’re at the grocery store and you overhear an exasperated parent say, "Well, if you were listening to me," or "Can you just listen to me, please."
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