I would love to hear what a five-year-old imperious tone sounds like.

None more imperious. She also has a dreadful habit of handing things off to us instead of dealing with them herself -- leaning all the way across the couch to hand me her water cup so I can cross the room and put it on the table next to her (usually accompanied by, "Mommy, when I hold this out to you that means you're supposed to take it") and such. Sometimes she longs for the all-enveloping safety of infancy, and sometimes she's as languid as a Gilded Age heiress.

Mostly we reiterate the importance of nice words and kindness and remembering that everyone deserves respect. And Miss Cathy did note that her attitude has really improved in the last couple of weeks. But, oh, sometimes she's the bossiest bossypants in the Land of Boss.

I did not know Carol Channing was black. Ish. Huh.

the bossy little cow.

Cow is such a derogatory term for a female. I just hate it. Even with the bossy-cow thing.

I wonder if this is one of the things a boy would get away with, or even lauded for.

Frisco is on his way to be the master negotiator, I think. For example, he knows he has to clear his place when he is done eating. But he is very quick to say "Mommy, this is a big plate. I think I need a grown-up to clear it. Can you do it?" complete with super sweet expression and a genuine smile.

Or he'll say "Mommy, I need you to carry the iPad downstairs because I am carrying my plane and I only have two hands", an expression he learned from me. Because, you know, why should he have to make two trips when mom has her hands only moderately full.

I get imperiousness coupled with a fascination with poop and farts. Be glad you don't have 5-6 year old sons, ladies! (How many times have I had to say, "I am not a trash can. You can go throw that away yourself." and "How do we ask for things politely?")

ita, I also hate "cow-irker" (for co-worker) very, very much.

I wonder if this is one of the things a boy would get away with, or even lauded for.

I don't think so -- at least, the stuff Matilda says and the tone she says it in is really, objectively, disrespectful bordering on disdainful. It'd be just as unpleasant coming from a boy, and I'm pretty sure this particular teacher is conscientious about not calling one gender on behavior she'd tolerate from the other.

(And, usual disclaimer about Matilda being in fact 75% pure delicious and only 25% Imperious McBossy)

I did not know Carol Channing was black. Ish. Huh.

That slideshow's description of Chris Daughtry:

We have no evidence that this American Idol rock star has any Black blood running through his veins but just by looking at his tan skin and his bald head (why he keeping his head shaved, huh?), we do suspect a lil flavor in him. He may be a part of the undercover Hollywood club called I’m black but I’ll never admit it, lest it hurt my career, which is run by the two biggest undercovers of them all: Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

I dunno. Making "guess the ethnically ambiguous person's ethnicity" into a game like that kind of makes me uncomfortable.

Google+ to allow nyms. Hmm. I wondered if they'd hold out forever.

It'd be just as unpleasant coming from a boy

In my experience, though, boys seem to get called on it less.

I was a disdainful little shit, and got away with it myself. Except when it came to going up against my father, who's the boss of imperious imperiosity.

the bossy little cow.

Cow is such a derogatory term for a female. I just hate it. Even with the bossy-cow thing.

I LOATHE it. I don't think it's a great idea to call one's female child a cow. I don't care if one means "bossy" (why are cows called bossy? ARE cows bossy? I don't even get it); what comes across is often going to be heard as a commentary on her body.

One more thought: One of my favorite things about watching my kids, or any I guess, grow up is watching them learn the system - what you can say, what works, what doesn't, how to get what you want, and so on. It's fascinating to see them take your words and ideas, or the words around them, and use them like building blocks to create their own sentences and ideas.