Don't say that, say this!

Things to NOT teach your child to say.  Totally taken from The Bloggess who is amazing and funny and all that good stuff.

1.  It's not my fauuuult....(must be whined).
As a teacher, this drives me mental.  I end up with 14 year olds, whining about the unfairness of life.  It's not their fault they have no pencil.  Blame their mother for not reminding them to wake up on time.  The printer is broken, again, and they forgot how to email assignments.  It's not their fault they didn't study, I forgot to remind them.

2.  It's not fair.
Also best if whined.  No, small people, life is NOT fair.  Go figure.  I realize that a lot of parents weigh, measure, and tweak all gifts until they are sure each child is getting the exact same amount.  This leads to children who are always looking around, making sure nobody got a single candy more than them.  Best Friend got an 83%, and you only got 82.5%.  Other classes are outside working, and I'm making you sit inside and take notes.  Sometimes, things happen that aren't fair.  Deal with it. 

3.  But I neeeeeed it.
Nope.  You don't.  Unless we are talking about water, food, clothing and shelter, you don't need it.  Oh, and hugs.  You do need hugs.  But a sparkly purple Hannah Montana pair of shoelaces, selling for $15?  You don't NEED those.

4.  I'm bored.
Remember when we were kids, and if we even looked bored, we got handed the lawn mower?  Yeah.  If your child has enough crap to open a Toys R Us in his room, and he still says he's bored, perhaps it's time to teach him to be self motivated.  To LOOK at the world around him.  To stop depending on everyone to entertain him.

You know what?  This is depressing.  Let's talk about things you SHOULD teach your child to say.

1.  Thank you.
That's it.  A simple thanks.  Maybe even with a smile!

2.  Please.
It's amazing how many kids get to high school without learning this word.  And when I insist on hearing it before requests, they roll their eyes at me.

3.  My parents won't let me.
This is a tricky one.  Yes, I think kids should take responsibility for their own actions, but sometimes they just need to be able to cast the blame on someone else.  It's okay if her friends don't like you....you're the parent.  And your child is glad that you have made some choices for her.

4.  I disagree.
Said politely, this goes a long way.  It's far better than the alternatives:  "That's so gay" or "You're stupid" or any other number of comments.  Let your child know it's okay to disagree, if you can do it respectfully.

That's all my rambling for today.  Leave a comment, telling me what things YOU think kids should or should not learn to say!

I am bored. And I have no ideas.

Update:  I have no idea why everything is highlighted in white.  Perhaps the blog gods are trying to tell me this post sucks.  Who knows.


Good morning, blog world!  I seem to have run out of ideas for writing, so I cheated and copied something from the internets.  I've included the link if you want to see more.
Go ahead and copy and paste into your own blog, but be sure to leave me a comment so I come read your answers!


1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? A snuggly blanket, my babies, and a good book.
2. What is your greatest fear? Losing my children.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Laziness
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?Fakeness
5. Which living person do you most admire?This is a tough one...I'm going to say Beth, my mom.
6. What is your greatest extravagance?I don't "do" extravagance.  Family vacations, I guess
7. What is your current state of mind?I already told you....I'm suffering writer's block!
8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?Patience.
9. On what occasion do you lie?I can't tell you that!!  Then you'll know when I'm lying to you!
10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?My overall size.  Width.  Balloonyness of a variety of areas.
11. Which living person do you most despise?Does it have to be someone I know?  Again, I really don't want to tell you this.  Perhaps this is where the lying comes in....
12. What is the quality you most like in a man?Sense of humor.
13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?Ability to have fun
14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?Apparently I say "Seriously?  SERIOUSLY??!!"
15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?My children, closely followed by my husband.
16. When and where were you happiest?Good grief, these are tough questions.  I guess the day my first child was born.  
17. Which talent would you most like to have?Athleticism.  That would help take care of the balloonyness.
18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?I'm sensing a theme here....laziness?  To help with the balloons???
19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?Surviving.
20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?A navy blue crayon.  Or perhaps a cat.
21. Where would you most like to live?On the beach!
22. What is your most treasured possession?My Raggedy Ann doll.
23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?A man with a cold.
24. What is your favorite occupation?Teaching, of course!  Also, being Mummy.
25. What is your most marked characteristic?My always yapping mouth.
26. What do you most value in your friends?Loyalty, support.
27. Who are your favorite writers?Alice Munroe, Judy Blume, Jodi Piccoult, John Grisham, Shirley Jackson, the list is endless.
28. Who is your hero of fiction?Anne of Green Gables
29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?I have honestly never thought about this. I'll get back to you.
30. Who are your heroes in real life?My mother, Obama.
31. What are your favorite names?Daisy.  I really, really wanted to name our daughter Daisy.  But Hubby refused to call her by a "cow" name.
32. What is it that you most dislike?Right now, I'm developing a hatred for stupid questions.
33. What is your greatest regret?Not speaking up.
34. How would you like to die?Quickly, quietly, in my sleep.
35. What is your motto?Just do it.

Genes from the other parent

Girl Terror and I were looking for something to watch on TV the other evening. We had settled in to "Hope for Wildlife", and were in full snuggle mode when she looked up and grinned.

"Mummy, you know, if we want, we can watch THE BIG BANG!!! THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIVERSE!!" Since I'm used to her now, I just waited for the rest.

"If we go to a channel we don't get, 1% of the static we see there is really left-over radiation from when the universe began!! Isn't that COOL???"

I blame her father. And don't feel bad, I had to google it too, to see if she knew what she was talking about.