"I'd take it from him if I could but he's at an age right now where he just doesn't do that well."

Iris needs additional jr. spork training. I'll send her on down.

"I'd take it from him if I could but he's at an age right now where he just doesn't do that well."

Practice makes perfect.

{{{Fay}}} You are a fabulous adult. Good luck getting the visa stuff done as quickly and painlessly as possible.

"I'd take it from him if I could but he's at an age right now where he just doesn't do that well."

Hmm, I'm not sure she's blaming the right person for not being able to do something well...

When we were growing up and we'd get frustrated and say something like, "I can't get this stupid [blank] to work!" my mother would say, "I think you have the stupid in the wrong place [in that sentence]."

Hmm, I'm not sure she's blaming the right person for not being able to do something well...

Umm, yeah. It's not like kids are born knowing how to share. I was a bit speechless. Thankfully, I was able to mollify Ellie with "You can have it when he goes home."

When we were growing up and we'd get frustrated and say something like, "I can't get this stupid [blank] to work!" my mother would say, "I think you have the stupid in the wrong place [in that sentence]."

I like this and I'm totally using it when Ellie gets old enough.

"I can't get this stupid [blank] to work!" my mother would say, "I think you have the stupid in the wrong place [in that sentence]."

Hee, I have to add this to my list of mommy sayings too.

We came from large families where sharing was learned pretty quick. We learned hiding our stuff early too.

"I'd take it from him if I could but he's at an age right now where he just doesn't do that well."

"Interesting. I, myself, am at an age where I don't tolerate stupid excuses for parents not taking responsibility for their child's behavior or for taking measures to correct inappropriate behavior. According to Dr. Spock, the best way to handle my 'phase' is to give vent to my frustrations. So, on the advice of a world-renowned child-rearing specialist, I will say: TAKE THE NECKLACE FROM YOUR SON AND IF HE PUTS UP A FUSS DISCIPLINE HIM...OR I WILL.

My house. My rules. If you don't like it, take your snotty little brat and go home."

I think my problem is that I was hoping the mom would get all that MM said from my semi-incredulous look.

I wonder what would have happened if you had to say, "I'm sorry Ellie's hitting him over the head with a stick, but she's at an age when she likes to do that."

Fay, there's something your parents have kept from you. Everyone sucks at being an adult. We all get the impression from our parents that there's some age at which we magically stop fucking up, because when we're little, adults seem so much more competent. In fact, they're all out there forgetting their visas, not taking their medicine, always paying late charges on their credit cards, making stupid impulse purchases and invading Iraq.

I wonder what would have happened if you had to say, "I'm sorry Ellie's hitting him over the head with a stick, but she's at an age when she likes to do that."

"I'd stop her if I could...oh, dear, now she's got the matches. Well, what can you do with them at this age, eh? Ha ha. More brie?"

Sounds like she just doesn't like to make her kid scream. That's just part of the job. I'm usually embarrassed when my kids throw fits at other people's houses, but I wouldn't fail to take something away from them and use the opportunity to practice learning to share. It sucks, but it's not like other parents haven't heard kids scream before. Everyone gets over it pretty quickly.