Would you like to know how many times I used the phrase, "because I said so" over the past few days?
4,356.
Ok, well maybe not THAT much but it's pretty damned close! And each of those times I've thanked God that my kids don't have the wherewithal to stop, look at me, and say, "What the hell kind of justification is that!??!"
When my son wanted to go outside this morning in just his pajama top, dirty diaper and no shoes to color on the patio I, shockingly, said 'no'.
"Why not?"
"Because you don't have any clothes on, it's going to rain and I need to change you!"
"But WHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYY mommy?!"
"Because I said so!"
"Ooooooooookkkkkkkk." In the whiniest voice EVER!
When I wouldn't allow him to take out Nemo (the new, now dead fish) and play with him.
"No, Nemo can't play outside of his bowl/margarita pitcher."
"Pllleeeeease."
"No and that's it!"
"But mommy, why?"
"Because I said so."
"Ok."
Seriously, he has no idea that he should look at me and totally question my reasoning. I've given him such the BS answer for his questions and I can't believe that he hasn't caught on yet. I'm pretty sure that if my daughter could form full sentences and words that did not come out sounding like they were Middle Eastern she would look at me after feeding her the "because I said so line" and say, "Whatever woman! That's not a good enough reason! I'm doing it unless you tell me exactly why I shouldn't in 10 words or less!!"
I don't remember how old I was when it finally clicked in my brain. I don't remember how I reacted when my mom used that line on me and I finally realized that it just wasn't good enough. I do remember though. I remember at some point realizing that 'because I said so' just was not going to cut it for reasoning. It was probably around the same time that I realized that the "we'll see" response actually meant, "there's no way in hell we're doing that!" I also remember thinking that I was NEVER EVER going to use 'because I said so' with my kids. My kids would be so much smarter and wouldn't ever accept that reasoning.
Apparently I was wrong.
Thank GOD!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Because I Said So
Posted by Unknown at 11:16 AM
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9 comments:
My daughter already figured out the "We'll see" line. She says, "When you say that, Mommy that means Probably not!!" *LOL*
She's only five. *sigh*
Great post!
"When they say, 'we'll see', they mean yes."
A quote from one of my kids at school. And they were five and six.
When did no mean; lets beg until they change thier mine. I would get hit if I even tried to ask again. No was no and that was it. PERIOD....
You know, it's funny - my husband was the one who always said "I won't say that to my children" because he sooooo hated that his father always said it to him. I, on the other hand, figured it would be my right as a mother to exercise my dictatorship as long as possible.
Now, it's my husband who says "because I said so" all the time, and he criticizes me because he thinks I "negotiate" with the children too much!
Fortunately, my teenager has it figured out. If I hand him the "because I said so" line, he KNOWS it means its absolutely pointless to argue with me, because he'll never win. :)
And I LOVE it that Nemo is hangin' out in a margarita pitcher! :)
sadly...my kids no longer fall for that line...my son told me the other day "that is not a good enough reason mommy..." I almost cried!!!
Oh, but one day . . . one day, they will make you answer . . .
Um. And when you figure out the best possible response. Please share it with the rest of us . . .
I've been finding myself using it too. My son is four and I got, "that doesn't make sense" the other day!
I never thought I'd say it either-but I find it so FRUSTRATING that they have to question everything I say!
I'm glad they are smart and inquisitive, but sometimes I want them to just do it-whatever it is- no questions asked!
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