To Be Fair... What Do YOU Say or Do That Drives Your Kids Nuts??? [Archive]

Peggy

03-15-2007, 09:00 AM

I've really enjoyed ready the thread about what our parents say and do that drives us nuts.:D And I think those of us with children realize that we have our own quirks and sayings that drive them crazy.

DD was reading the thread over my shoulder and I decided to ask her what I said that drove her crazy. I was surprised by the IMMEDIATE response.:o

"Oh Mom... I hate it when you say, 'You're not going to want to hear this, but..." or 'Don't get mad, but.... And it makes me crazy when I tell you a story and in the middle of it you interrupt me and ask me an unrelated question. I feel like you haven't been listening at all! And then there's THE LOOK...":o guilty as charged!

So what do YOU do or say that drives YOUR children nuts? If you don't know, you just have to ask them! ;)

Peggy

muriel3002

03-15-2007, 09:02 AM

You can't just repay your debts/credit cards/loans, you have to save money at the same time.

They just hate that. I know they are struggling, but I'm only trying to help them....;)

lindrusso

03-15-2007, 09:09 AM

With my youngest, it would probably be "You need to wear a coat/jacket.". That really sends him over the edge. You'd think I had asked him to clean out the toilet with a toothbrush or something. :rolleyes:

Just this morning - it's chilly, windy and raining like crazy - I uttered these horribly annoying and ridiculous words. I was met with utter contempt - he harumphed - probably while rolling his eyes, threw his stuff to the floor and yelled "FINE, but I'm only BRINGING it, I'm not WEARING it!".

Okay, so maybe this is really about what my DS does to annoy ME. :D

I'll have to ask them what I say that sets them off..................

Peggy

03-15-2007, 09:16 AM

Just this morning - it's chilly, windy and raining like crazy - I uttered these horribly annoying and ridiculous words. I was met with utter contempt - he harumphed - probably while rolling his eyes, threw his stuff to the floor and yelled "FINE, but I'm only BRINGING it, I'm not WEARING it!".

LOL!:D My DD used to say (and do) the same thing! Once she hit high school, I quit fighting with her about whether or not she was wearing the appropriate outer wear for the weather. It only took a few frigid mornings without a coat for her to realize that she really needed to remember to bring one. Now she'll ask me every morning before she leaves, "What's the weather supposed to be like today?":)

Peggy

funnybone

03-15-2007, 09:20 AM

It's not so much what I say as what I do. DS2 loves to print out pictures of things he wants. This is a regular thing. Then he leaves them in places I am supposed to see them (kitchen island, table, etc). When he comes home from school, he sees it's in the exact same place and I have pretended not to see it. THAT drives him nuts. This week happens to be an Ohio State jersey on his favorite player. :rolleyes: :D

lindrusso

03-15-2007, 09:23 AM

LOL!:D Once she hit high school, I quit fighting with her about whether or not she was wearing the appropriate outer wear for the weather.

I have quit fighting him on this when he goes to play outside. I figure if he's cold, he'll come in and get a coat - or he'll just be cold. He's not going to get sick from it and he doesn't go out when it dangerously cold......

He's still in elementary school with recess - that's what drives me nuts! I'm sure the school thinks I must not pay any attention to how the kid dresses or that I don't care! Once he's done with recess next year when he goes to middle school, I'm done fighting.

I do still make him bring a coat when we go places - too many times he's refused to wear a coat and then begs us for our coat when he gets cold. I refuse to give him my coat in these situations, but DH often gives in. :rolleyes: At least have the danged thing in the car - just in case!

But ooops - I am digressing and hijacking.........

Kathy B

03-15-2007, 10:09 AM

It's what I don't do (or should I say "can't do"). They get so exasperated why I don't remember how to scan something and insert it into an email....they just showed me that last month! (And that was the last time I did it, too!)

The other day I was trying to call AI to vote and I couldn't get the phone to work right (turned out I was leaving out one number) :o , but anyway, DH started mimicing me when I am frustrated with some electronic gizmo, and the kids were rolling on the floor laughing. Give me any medical device or equipment, and I can trouble shoot it with or without the manual, but TV's, DVR's, computers, ipods, digital cameras, etc.....I don't really get, and the kids (and DH) don't get ME!

testkitchen45

03-15-2007, 10:21 AM

Nothing. Nothing at all. No problems here. Nope.

:D

I'll ask the kids (do I really want to do that???). I can guess, but asking them is lots more fun (and risky!).

KimK

03-15-2007, 10:22 AM

KristaMB

03-15-2007, 10:23 AM

When I say, "I will not tolerate that (kind of behavior)" it sends DS, age 5, into a fit. I've tried to find other ways to tell him he needs to shape up! He specifically asked me not to use the word "tolerate." :rolleyes:

DD is 2 1/2, so everything I say drives her nuts. ;)

leebee

03-15-2007, 10:34 AM

Well, my son is only 6, so he still thinks Dad & I are awesome. But we have found a way to push his buttons--since it's on purpose, I don't know if it counts. When he dawdles too much on something, which is often, we'll give him this warning: "I'm counting to ten, then I'm singing show tunes." Man, launching into "Oklahoma!" two or three times is all it took for me to get him to get dressed quickly in the morning. We'll keep using it as long as it works!

Jollyjo

03-15-2007, 11:07 AM

Oh, this is an easy one - EVERYTHING!

(mother of 16 yr old girl - need I say more?)

Farhana

03-15-2007, 11:13 AM

"why"- from a three yr old:eek:!

bobmark226

03-15-2007, 11:24 AM

When he dawdles too much on something, which is often, we'll give him this warning: "I'm counting to ten, then I'm singing show tunes." Man, launching into "Oklahoma!" two or three times is all it took for me to get him to get dressed quickly in the morning. We'll keep using it as long as it works!

I see. :(

Raising a wee homophobe there, are you? ;)

Bob

leebee

03-15-2007, 11:40 AM

I see. :(

Raising a wee homophobe there, are you? ;)

Bob

Teasing or not, I take exception to this. No, we just get a little wrapped up & overly dramatic, which drives DS nuts. It would be the same if I said, "Beatles songs" or "Johnny Cash"--it's all in the delivery. And I do a **** fine "Oklahoma!" thank you very much.

Jessica

03-15-2007, 11:59 AM

Probably lots of things, but since he is only 9 months old, he can't complain.

KimK-- My mother always said that I could leave my coat on a chair when I grew up and lived in my own house (or my dishes in the sink, or my clothes on the floor). Now, I have a DH who doesn't like me to do those things, so it proved to be untrue. :p

LaraW

03-15-2007, 12:02 PM

I'm sure my 11 year old step son, who lives with us, is sick of hearing this: "When you're an adult and live in your own house, you may (fill in the blank).......eat mac and cheese every night for dinner, make your own rules, etc.

Kim, my mom used to say this to me as well. When I was living in my first apartment, by then-BF (now DH) said to me "why do you leave your shoes around in the living room". My answer was "because my mom told me that when I grew up and moved out and had my own apartment, I could!" :D

As for what I say to my kids - pretty much everything I say to DD drives her nuts. She's 3. And, DS is too young to complain - 14 months.

TKay

03-15-2007, 12:27 PM

"Do you need to go potty?"
"Now, you don't make fun of (name) when he/she does that, do you?"
"It's time for bed."

My boys are 5 and 7. I guess I repeat myself a lot because ds (7-year-old) says, "I know, I know," quite a bit. I'll say, "Then what am I going to say?" And he'll tell me! Accurately! Like, "Don't do that because it hurts people's feelings. I already know that." Or, "Bring a tissue in case you have to blow your nose. I already know that."

Peggy

03-15-2007, 12:29 PM

Lisa W

03-15-2007, 12:35 PM

lindrusso

03-15-2007, 12:53 PM

I do this to both my boys and it drives them crazy! They will forget their manners and instead of asking politely for a drink for example, they'll say, "I'm thirsty." I'll reply with, "Hi Thirsty! I'm Lisa. Nice to meet you."

:)

My answer to "I'm thirsty" is usually something along the lines of "So?" or "That's nice.". I'll have to try your line for something new - I like it! :D

jellyben

03-15-2007, 12:57 PM

For a while whenever my kids would say "that's not fair!!" I would respond "fair is a place you take your pig!" and they would get so mad!! I am sure there are a jillion other things that they can think of!

newtricks

03-15-2007, 12:59 PM

The list is long.

I say:
Only boring people get bored.
If you treated your friends the way you treat your brother would you have any friends?
Lots of kids don't have *any* _____ (fill in the blank but yesterday it was Webkins)

embarrassing things I do:
I sing. (sometimes it's show tunes but I agree with Leebee, it's because I get super dramatic and they can't take it. I love show tunes)
I say hi to their friends at school.
I say hi to my oldest in front of his friends.
I talk to other drivers when I'm driving (this drove me crazy too as a kid but mostly because my mom would call anyone driving stupidly George. :confused: )

Robyn1007

03-15-2007, 01:16 PM

Well, I don't have my own kids but when the kids I coach ask me "When is lunch?" my response is ALWAYS "At lunch time." Drives 'em nuts! :p :D

leebee

03-15-2007, 01:30 PM

Well, I don't have my own kids but when the kids I coach ask me "When is lunch?" my response is ALWAYS "At lunch time." Drives 'em nuts! :p :D

Oh, that reminds me of another one! "Are we there yet?" Answer: "Yep, we're right here!" Gets a reaction every time. Hated it when I was a kid!

DeeK

03-15-2007, 02:00 PM

The one thing I say (do?) is after we've had a "discussion" and I've walked away I'll head back down the hallway, lean around his door, point a finger and say........"and ANOTHER thing!"

It's not over until we've had at LEAST another thing or two (or four) ;) .

Jalapeno

03-15-2007, 02:09 PM

Oh, this is an easy one - EVERYTHING!

(mother of 16 yr old girl - need I say more?)

I know what you mean!!! Mother of a 16 year old son! Yup EVERYTHING!!!!

Goin' Coastal

03-15-2007, 03:08 PM

There are 2 of them - one's mine and DH claims the other....

Mine - and I've been saying it for years

"There is an order we do things in life - We graduate from high school, We graduate from college, We get married - and then, and only then do we think about having children! There will be no deviation from this order!"

Always said with a smile - but oh, how the eyes would roll! :D

From DH - started when they started driving......

"The 2 main causes for teenage accidents are speed and driver inattention"

Now, they like to remind him of that as he drives with his knee as he sends emails on his Blackberry.........

Canice

03-15-2007, 03:15 PM

....
I say hi to my oldest in front of his friends....

Wow, you are REALLY outta control, Barbara! :p
When my best friend was in high school his dad would drop him off a respectable half block from school, as ordered. But would he just drive away? Nope! He'd drive reaaaaalllly slowly, and unroll the window and shout, "Good-bye, son! I love you!!" AND...he drove an orange Pinto! Boy, did he (the dad of course) love that. Just made his day. :p

Jezebelly

03-15-2007, 04:43 PM

"Clean your room"
"Did you brush your teeth/hair?"
"Take a shower"
"I don't care if xyz friend is doing it. Her mom must be nicer than me."
"No tv/gameboy. It's bedtime."
"I'm not your maid."
"Well, when you're a grown up you can boss your kids around."
"Wake up, it's time for school."
"Do you have homework?"
"Eat your dinner."
"Hang your towel up."

Oh god. I am my mother. :(

Kiwismommy

03-15-2007, 06:52 PM

My adult daughter told me a true, sad story one evening and I replied with :"OH, well"., but before I had it out of my mouth, she said, and don't you dare say "Oh, well"!.

It really brought it around to me that I had a very overused saying, that really sounded as though I was blowing astory off.

I try my hardest not to use these words now and try to use something more appropriate for the situation.

sweeps

03-15-2007, 09:59 PM

The list is long.

I say:
Only boring people get bored.

That's the one my mother used to say that drove me absolutely nuts! I have caught myself saying that a few times.:o

newtricks

03-16-2007, 05:19 AM

That's the one my mother used to say that drove me absolutely nuts! I have caught myself saying that a few times.:o

Oh, I totally learned that from my parents. It's true though isn't it? ;)

LakeMartinGal

03-17-2007, 08:44 AM

My DDs are adults, and they absolutely hate any mention of weight, unless they are dieting! We could all lose some...:rolleyes:

Other than that, I am, of course, the 'perfect' mom! :rolleyes: :D Now, since we mostly talk by phone, I can hear their eyes roll sometimes...:o