would everyone just do as I say not as I do please!?
Jake challenged me to not say anything in reaction to being exasperated for two weeks.
I laughed and, once again, thought to myself not to say anything because this is just one of those things that dads don't get, right? I mean really, how many times, comparatively, does a dad get exasperated during any given day?
Maybe.
It all stemmed from me being frustrated over the fact that I can't seem to kick saying 'Oh my gosh' (sound too much like you know what and since we're trying to teach Lydia and Samantha that the you know what isn't acceptable I figured I'd better get with it!)
Turns out getting with not saying 'it' isn't as easy as it seemed.
Not because I don't have anything else to say but because I get exasperated SO often.
I wonder why!?
So, is it even possible to not say anything or do I just need something else to say or is it possible to just not be exasperated in the first place?
I'm going to go with option one or two for now....especially since while trying to get to the computer just now I had to plow through two doorways blocked by the same grouping of four toddlers - like, what didn't you get about 'excuse me' in the first doorway that would cause you to block the next one?
Or the three fights I've ignored while writing or the fight that is going on right now:
Sophie hitting Nora, Nora hitting Samantha and Samantha 'standing too close' to Lydia
I don't want to know if this gets easier, I know it won't.
I do want to know if it gets quieter!?
OH MY GOSH!
The Mommy and Daddy
(aka Holly and Jake, but only sometimes)
Our Lydia
Our Samantha
Our Lenora
Our Sophie
8 comments:
I think you should say "Fiddle-sticks!".
Naomi, that's swell!
My favorite saying is, "Oh good grief!"
Much better than "Damn it!!" Which I finally said the other day...there were no other words. It had to be said.
Heh heh. Laughing with you, about the whole post. OMG, I can relate to every bit of it. How many times do I say excuse me in a day?? They so love to stand exactly where you are trying to walk!
How about goodness gracious my dear darling daughters?
If that's too long there is always jeepers or shucks or OH PICKLES : )
Yeah, I've been busted by that lately with our 4 year old "police officer". It's so hard to relearn things.
Hi Holly,
Abby is not very verbal at all and unfortunately every single time she spills something or drops something she says "Oh gosh." I had no idea I said it that much!
Jeni
My favorite is "Heavens to Mergatroide!" I have no idea what that means, but your great grandma Milligan (Dorothy) used to say that along with "E-Gads" all the time! I can remember my brothers and I tormenting her terribly and she would cry out with a loud "Heavens to Mergatroide!" and we would all jump, as if God himself had spoken. So it must have some profound affect on children!
As for mothers not getting exasperated with thier children, it is utterly impossible. You can, however, make choices in how you will respond when they do exasperate you! Be proactive, get a game plan, and move on. When you mess it up, and you will, just start again and try to do better next time. That's the best any of us can do! Above all, pray, pray, pray! Love you! Mom
Ahhhhh!!!!! hahahahahah! my dad says heavens to mergatroid too. I love it, but it's not the first thing that flies out of my mouth when exasperated. I noticed on Madagascar the zebra says "Sugar Honey Iced Tea" but I'm not sure that is such a good idea either (rethinking the whole Disney movies idea or maybe that one is MGM, not sure but I am rethinking it).
I've been trying to get my 3yo son to just say "oh my" when he exclaims over things, but its not as easy as I'd like it to be. Maybe you should just really say the real thing, but let it be a prayer. God says we can cast all our care upon him right? So when we are exasperated can we cry out "Oh my God!" I know, it's not really socially acceptable, and difficult to explain why Mommy can cry out to the Lord, but our little ones have to say something that is acceptable in sunday school. I'm no help, I realize this, but I just needed to work out some thoughts about this post. Good luck to you.
EM
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