In her mind...in her eyes...in her words...

What does this face say to you?

Here's what this face, regularly, says to me:

Her: You're a mean girl.

Me: How so?

Her: You. Just. Are.

Me...raised eyebrows.

Her: A MEAN MEAN girl.

Me: Is this about the chocolate? Is this about me not letting you eat the chocolate for lunch?

Her: HUMPH!

Me: Or maybe it's the new toy. I said I was not going to go to the store and get a new toy for you today.

Her...jaw juts out, bottom lip hardens.

Me: Or maybe it's because I told you to clean up your toys.

Her: MEAN!

Me..arms waving: Someone call CPS, vicious mom, cruel parenting, abuse abuse! A mother making her child clean up her toys! Unheard of!

Her: It's too much for me. I'm too tired.

Me: Maybe we need to take away the toys, maybe you have too many. Point out the ones you want to keep and I'll put away the rest.

Her: Moooooooommmmmm, I don't like those words! You're a rude mean girl!

Me: Toys need to be put away.

Her: I will...in a minute...I'm playing now.

Me: A minute ago you were too tired to clean up. You're too tired to clean, you're too tired to play.

Her: I. Don't. Like. Those. Words!!!!

Me...

Her: If you don't help me clean up then I will...I will...I will take away this toy now!

Me: Okay. Want me to take it away?

Her...

Me...

Her: NO! This is my toy! I can't play ever again. You said I can't play ever again.

Me: I said you need to clean up these toys here before going on to play something else.

Her...more of the same

Me: Clean. Up. Now.

Her...more arguing, bargaining, threatening.

Me: Clean. Up. Now.

And how does it end? With a garbage bag of toys, as usual.

I'm so looking forward to the teen years. Ought to be a lot of fun. Really.

By Julie Pippert
Artful Media Group
Museum Quality Digital Art and Photography
Limited Edition Prints
Artful by Nature Fine Art and Photography Galleries
The Golden Orchid: Original and Unique Wearable Art

© 2006. All images and text exclusive property of Julie Pippert. Not to be used or reproduced.

Comments

Julie Pippert said…

Yeah, love 'em.

Or else.

;)

April 24, 2006 at 9:21 PM

Restaurant Trauma in Texas: How eating out prompted a really uncomfortable lesson about culture

WARNING: This is NOT a family-friendly post, aka the warning I WISH I'd gotten yesterday before I walked in. Yesterday was a Holiday. I hope you heard the scare quotes around that. Yeah, when you are an adult here is how holidays work: you, same workload as always, kids WOO HOO NO SCHOOL FREEDOM. Do the equation. The result is the day I had yesterday. If math isn't your strong suit I'm pretty sure you can still add that up but just in case let's say the highlight of the afternoon included me dumping out the mismatched sock basket and telling the children to have at it, in a way very reminiscent of Miss Hannigan of Annie . Anyway luckily I've taught my kids that Chores are Fun! and they had a good time. Later, I cranked up the fun-o-meter on a bank errand by dropping in the Halloween store to check out costumes, and upped the ante on "Mom needs new running shoes" by tacking on a "Hey let's eat out at a restaurant!" My husband was able to join ...

If I Could Talk To Him One More Time, Today (a Monday Mission)

This is part of the Monday Mission. We're to leave a voice mail. Check out Painted Maypole's spot for more... "Hi...umm...Mitch? It's Julie, Julie from high school. I doubt you remember me; we only knew each other for about five minutes. You mowed our lawn a few times, dated my friend's sister, and were in my AP English class senior year. That's why I'm calling---about what you did in the English class. It made a lasting impression, really made a difference in my life. That probably sounds dramatic but it's true. You see, I'd spent a lot of years being the kid who fell through the cracks in school. I think by high school I'd gotten tired of being the good enough and compliant student. Senior year, I was one inch from dropping out, and I probably would have if I'd had the guts or I thought my parents would let me get away with it. Instead, I just created a lot of unnecessary sturm and drang for myself, and cut school so much that by the end ...

Me Talk Big One Day (A Hump Day Hmm for 2-20-2008)

Image source and story of image: National Galleries of Scotland If you were to ask me, I'd tell you that I tend to say things other people dare not say. I speak my mind. I don't always coat my words with a generous dollop of ass kissing. Many people consider averted eyes, swallowed words, and sugar coating their due. Skipping this is perceived as disrespectful. It never quite got me to bite my tongue, though, even at times I perhaps should have. I was bold, arrogant, and defensive about this, as the youth often are about their immaturity. But as I entered my mid-thirties and beyond, I began noticing a disturbing pattern: a tendency to swallow my words and sugarcoat. Was this maturity? Wisdom? Or was it a desire to please? Was I tired and worn down? I sat down and looked backwards--- Russo-style , through the opposite end of the telescope---and tried to figure out if I'd ever been as bold out loud as I was in my mind. Was I? Had I been? Could I be? Should I? I believe I was...

Julie Pippert: Using My Words

Search This Blog