Funny things heard from other parents

DVFlyer wrote: Ok, so we all have ways we talk to our children that other people might find from funny to outright wrong. Thought I'd start a thread on the "funny" or portion of what you've heard...

While at a park a couple of weekends ago, our kids were playing on a small play set with some other kids. One of them was sitting at the top of the slide not going anywhere. After a few minutes of the other kids saying "move!", the mother of the child says,

"Johnny... you're not being a good citizen. Remember how important it is to be a good citizen".

While I understand the message she was trying to send, I just found it completely odd to use the word "citizen". Something about the "political correctness" of it made me

(sorry to those here who use that phrase. ).

moped replied: I would have totally burst out laughing out loud uncontrolably......

I am likely the parent that people laugh at because I talk to Jack like he is a grown up sometimes, especialy in stores. I will have to think of some funny things I hear or say!

My2Beauties replied: I just think it's funny how some people (mostly moms) handle their out of control child in the store. I mean they just act like they have no control, they sit there and wrestle with them to keep them in the cart, speak softly and say things like please don't do this here etc....I wanna laugh not to be mean because I know how kids can be, but geez lady have some control seriously, take that kid out of the store and if you don't believe in spankings then put his butt in a timeout in his car seat and let him throw his tantrum there. That type of voice has no affect on a child. I mean I hear things like ok sweetie don't embarass mommy now or something like that....I have no tolerance for that type of behavior. If my kids act up in a store I take them by the arm, we leave the store and they get a very firm talking to in the car and I let them know they will not be going again anytime soon. Thank goodness I have pretty well behaved children.

coasterqueen replied:
That is funny. And I agree, I'd be the one laughed at too, because I talk very grown up to my girls - or at least I do with Kylie for sure. Maybe that's why she's so mature for her age.

Like people laugh at me when I say to the girls "Be careful when you touch the baby, they are breakable". I used to tell Kylie that all the time when Megan was little and still do that when they are around other babies. They understand the word "breakable" and fear they might hurt them so they are careful.

DVFlyer replied: Phew.... glad no one here (yet) is a "be a good citizen, johnny" parent.

Trust me, I was laughing on the inside for sure.

And fwiw I didn't necessarily think the child wasn't behaving badly. i.e. it didn't bother me that they wouldn't go down the slide- like that doesn't happen 100 times every time we're at a park.

But speaking about those types of things, BOY did I get looked at one day at the mall when Keian was acting up. I crouched down to his level, grabbed him by the front of his shirt and said, "ENOUGH!".

You would have thought I cracked him over the head with a baseball bat by the looks I was getting....

Calimama replied: That's funny. What a weird word choice.

I always laugh at my friend because her son is a chronic hitter. He'll lift up the toy (or stick), gets ready to aim, and she'll say, "well hey now, what are we planning on doing with that toy in the air?"

Give him a second and he'll show you. It's not big shock. He never fails.

wcs40110 replied:
So I'm susposed to quit shopping because my kid is acting up? I sooo do not have time for that.

I hate shopping with Dakota because I am a bad mom if I let her cry, I am a bad mom if I put her in the cart and let her scream.

All well...

My3LilMonkeys replied: I am the mom (or one of them at least - I hope there's more of us!) that EVERYONE laughs at.

-We use our shopping time as learning time a lot - I'll ask them what letters are on the package, what numbers in the price, which one is more expensive, etc. Lots of people give me odd looks for that though it seems perfectly logical to me.
-My kids love to talk to the clams, lobsters, shrimp, etc in the seafood display - and I let them.
-I answer their questions, all 6 million of them, as best as I can and as honestly as I can - and I speak to them as if they are adults. I frequently tell them to remind me when we get home and we'll google it if I don't know an answer.
-I teach them practical things, like how to tell if the pineapples are ripe. Lots of odd looks and laughs when you see a mom and 2 small girls smelling pineapples.

And the big one, that not only gets laughs but seems to gross a lot of people out - my kids want to know where their food comes from, so I tell them. They ask about the package of ribs, I show them where their ribs are and explain about how those ribs used to be inside of a pig. They ask about the cheese, they get a mini-lesson in milking cows and what little I know about the cheesemaking process.

HuskerMom replied:
That's sounds pretty normal to me, that's what my Dh would do.

redchief replied: I have to do safety checks on the playground equipment in the city as one of the many hats I wear. As part of the uniform I must wear my ID badge anytime I'm out in public. I'd like to have a dime for every time I heard a parent say to a misbehaving child, "You see that man over there? (pointing at me) If you don't behave he's going to arrest you!"

We tell our kids that police officers and firefighters are safe places to be if there's trouble when parents aren't around, but too many start their kids off being afraid of those very same people with what they see as an easy fix for poor discipline. So, the statement is funny, but the lasting effects can be really confusing.

CantWait replied:
Why is it you always take offence to whatever is said on here. I really don't think that was the intent of the post. No one is out to get you here.

CantWait replied:

LeaAnn I couldn't agree more. Although there have been times where I let them throw their fit right there in the store and walked away. If they are misbehaving though, as opposed to kicking and screaming, it's outside we go, have our talking to, and when all is calm, in we go again to finish our shopping. Perhaps this is why kids aren't allowed in a couple grocery stores here in Moscow lol

My2Beauties replied:
In no way was I trying to offend anyone. I was just saying I think it's funny when kids throw tantrums and the mom starts speaking all soft to them like sweetie don't do this now as if it's going to work...that's all I was saying. I have let Hanna throw a tantrum in a store once because I was already in line but you best believe my reaction wasn't oh sweetie stop. I picked her little butt up threw her over my shoulder and proceeded to check out and she was punished. I think kids would learn more if the parents would stop what they are doing regardless and let their kid let off their steam...outside or in the car. No one wants to hear a screaming kid the entire time they are shopping. I've heard kids in the stores before for sometimes a half hour while shopping. I wanted to walk over there myself, pick the kid up and take them outside...that is really annoying.

DillsMommy replied:
Aw, I think that's sweet. What a fun mommy you are.

A&A'smommy replied:
I do that EXACT same thing, not only do they learn but it makes shopping fun!!!

moped replied: If Jack says something mouthy or saucy to me I wil say "Jack, who are you speaking to"? He will say YOU, and I say "really, it couldn't have been ME you were talking to like that right"....he always rolls his eyes. People have laughed at me when i say that

moped replied:
Jack would ask you if he could ride with you for the day! We always tell him that Police and Firemen are GOOD great people int he community!!!!!!

wcs40110 replied:
I wasn't saying that she thought I was a bad mom.
I didn't seperate those two comments very well sorry.

I was just trying to point out that you can't always just take your kid out of the store.
I guess it works for others, just not me.



The bad mom either way comment was a seperate thought, not related.

DVFlyer replied:
Pet peeve of mine for sure...

Why would you tell a child that someone they should trust is going to do something bad to them. Funny (not), I thought disciplining a child was the parents job... not threatening someone else will discipline them.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Seems normal to me!

redchief replied: OK. hot off the presses. The names have been changed to protect the innocent!

I was at church for Confirmation tonight and afterward parents get to have their pictures taken with the celebrant of the Mass. That's perfect opportunity for a little sibling rivalry while everyone ins impatiently awaiting the end of the photo ops.

So a little boy and is older sister are doing that, kind of running around mom who is totally ignoring them both. Brittany pulls Johnny's hair and the boy runs right back to mom, who is now talking to the sister in charge of religious ed. He tells her twice, "Mom, Britt pulled my hair!" Mom ignores him so he says it louder.

Mom, only missing half a beat also pulls Johnny's hair and asks, "Like this?"

Johnny yelps, "MOM!" then, "Britt, MOM pulled my hair."



I had to walk down the aisle.

DVFlyer replied:

ha ha ha ha!

coasterqueen replied:
That is hilarious!!!

MommyToAshley replied:
LOL!


When we get laughs at the store, it is usually not because of me but becuase of Ashley. She is usually singing a song, telling a funny joke... or she will dance and sing while we wait in line. So, she usually gets the attention, not me.