Because I Said So... and More

Wake Up on the Bright Side 

It's a good day to have a good day


It is especially a good day when we get to read the funny things we say.  I found some great examples from children.  There are a number of websites, facebook and instagram pages that accumulate stupid/cute things my children/I as a child have said/done.

"When my oldest was 5, I was pregnant. I found out I was having a boy and we excitedly told our son he was having a brother. He started crying. Through the tears he asked, 'if you have a boy who will I marry when I grow up?' We had to explain a lot of things that day."

"Me: Can you tidy your room please!?!

4 year old son: But I'm playing a game...and in the game, this ain't my room.
 

"Before going to bed

Me: Did you brush your teeth?

Child: Yes

Me: Tonight ?

Child: .....Oh...I thought you meant last night."

Adults don't think they say dumb things to their children.  But in fact, common parental expressions seem to be dumb. Huffington Post has categorized them for more entertainment:

The Illogical:

• This hurts me more than it hurts you
• Because I said so
• When I was your age
• Money doesn't grow on trees
• One day you'll thank me
• If you want to act like a child, I'll treat you like one
• Quiet down, I can't even hear myself think

The Logical:

• Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer
• If your friends told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it too?

The Threatening:

• Do you want a spanking?
• Wait till your dad/mom gets home
• Stop crying or I will give you something to cry about
• I am going to count to three

The Sarcastic:

• Are your legs broken?
• Oh, Jen's mom lets her do (such and such)?  Then go live with Jen's mom...I'll help you pack
• Shut the door, were you born in a barn?

Where do these expressions come from - how old are they?  It seems it is easier to find out the origins of common cat and dog sayings than parenting sayings and their origins.

Here are some of the things I found out.  I retrieved a cartoon of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev as a dentist about to extract Cuban leader Fidel Castro's teeth, drawn as missiles with the expression:  This hurts me more than it hurts you. HERE.

Ask a stupid question and you'll get a stupid answer - that was  found in Oliver Goldsmith's play She Stoops to Conquer (1773) and became popular thereafter.

Stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about - This retrieves a site that offers to translate it into Spanish.  Perhaps Spain considers this a useful expression.

Because I said so retrieves "Get a Because I said so! mug for your daughter in law Jovana."  

Our Sacramento layout today shows how the rock face has been modelled and then the close-up of the train as it travels over the bridge.