Monday, November 20, 2006

The Darndest Things

Being a single non-parent, I love talking to parents on the phone. I hear phrases I would never hear otherwise, especially while a child is under going potty training.

Maria: Sloane! Did you just pee on the floor? You're sticky!
Sloane: No mama.

Aileen: Iris! Do not drink out of the toilet!

Maria: Sloane! Quit throwing the clean laundry in the air. Put the clothes down. I mean it. Now!
and in the next breath: Austin get down. You are not allowed to climb to the top of couch and jump off.

Aileen: I've got to go. Iris has to go to the bathroom and if I am not there it could get messy.

Most of the time the next sentence I hear is an apology from the parent saying he/she has to hang up. I am usually laughing too hard to reply, "Just put the receiver down. I'll hold. I need the laugh." I love listening to the potty training years most of all.

I was looking forward to hearing some of these parent - kid exchanges in person. The last of my miles were expiring at the end of the December. I HAD to use them, and I did, last weekend. I went back to Atlanta! Turns out, these exchanges only happen on the phone.

My other goal for this trip was to complete my holiday shopping for the kids. Having completed the mission early Saturday, the kids, Maria, and I went to see Happy Feet. We left the theater with both kids tapping their feet through the movie parking lot, in Borders, and up the walkway at their house. Needless to say; great movie.


Go Mumbles! You are my new hero.

3 comments:

Paperback Writer said...

My friend has joint custody of his child. When trying to discipline his child and she does something funny I have to run out of the run lest I encourage the errant behavior.

But sometimes, it's really hard...

rennratt said...

I will make a list of things that I never expected to say as a parent.

I plan on dedicating it to YOU.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

funny how parents on the telephone turns kids into screamers -- at least the ones i know. when you're there in person, the nuttiness goes away. hopefully.