Did I Just Say That?!?!
Posted on July 10, 2009 by FoBaM-Jamie
Although many moms I know aspire to be as wonderful and wise and their own
mothers, an equal number swore solemn oaths to avoid parroting the “momisms”
that plagued them during their own childhood.
Despite my best efforts, I will admit that I repeatedly catch myself
uttering the timeworn phrases that are standard fare in the language of
motherhood. You know what I’m talking about. Things like, “Because I said
so” and “Don’t make me stop this car” and “Do you live in a barn?” and “Wait
until your father gets home.” In the heat of the moment, you suddenly find
yourself channeling your own mother. Before you can stop yourself, these
age-old clichés are falling from your lips and landing, like the proverbial
other shoe dropping, on the bewildered ears of your offspring.
The first few times this happened to me, I was shocked and horrified.
Whatever circumstance had incited my momentary possession was instantly
forgotten as I reeled from the fact that I’d just become my mom. Happily, in
my case, I’d be lucky to be such a wonderful mom. Still, it’s sobering to
realize how difficult it is to escape joining the long, proud lineage of
moms from all the ages and continents who have undoubtedly uttered these
phrases for centuries.
I’ve reconciled my mixed feelings about joining this not-so-secret society
and no longer cringe when I sense one of the offending phrases creeping to
the tip of my tongue. Now, I just go with it. After all, it’s worked for all
those other moms for all this time, who am I to fight it?
[poll id="4"]
What are your favorite and least favorite momisms?
“Do you want your teeth to rot out of your mouth?”
I have said that very same statement just a few days ago. LOL
“we do not have a money tree growing in the back yard”
Just wait until your Dad gets home!
Do you want me to ever want me to take you anywhere again?
If your friends jumped off a bridge would you? I hate that.I wish I would have answered her with “depends..Is it over land or water”?
My favorite from my mom that I use is “sit still and chew!” for my 2 year old daughter.
My mom taught things that contradict each other:
#1 Life is not fair. (when we whined that something wasn’t fair)
#2 You can do anything you set your mind to do! (when we whined that we CAN’T do something)
I learned in later years that these things are true, as long as you take Lesson #2 and remind yourself of Lesson #1. Therefore, I use these often and happily on my own kids. Thank you, Mama!
I used “You be anything you want when you grow up” . One day my daughter and I were at Kirkland’s at the checkout counter (she was 3)and I sat her on the counter as I paid. She asked the cashier “Are you black?” the cashier laughed and said yes and then my daughter replied “I’m going to black too when I get big!”. I later told her that I was wrong and there were a few things she could not be when she grew up and black was one of them. lol
I have succumbed to the fact that no matter how hard you try not to be like your mom, you are your mom because of learned behavior and dna. So stop fighting it and try to change it. That’s what I do.
When I would ask my mom if I could do or have something she would say “we’ll see” which is the cheaters way of saying “no.”
Google (or check youtube) for “Momsense” Anita Renfroe! It’s great!
BECAUSE I SAID SO!!!!!
No mom, anywhere in the world, has avoided that one. Don’t care what any of them say…
If they are acting up I always use this famous one from my mom-”I brought you into this world and I can take you out!” Sounds horrible, I know but it’s not meant literally, just as a reminder to shape up!
The statement I was referring to was the ” Do you want your teeth to rot out of your head?” I have often used ” Because I said so” when I am tired of answering endless questions about MY decisions for their well being. Who is the mom here anyway? I think my mom was very right to use that phrase.
Can’t believe no one has used this one yet. “Because I said so” Every mother vows practically from the moment of conception that we will never utter these words to our children. We were all taught by our mothers that “because” is not an answer, but we heard those words said to us all through our childhood and possibly throughout our adulthood too.
I haven’t really had the chance to use any of the “mom” words with my daughter, but I find myself using a lot of them with my preschool class (all 3-4 yrs. old) every year. Mostly the “inside voice, we are not outside” or “there is no such thing as can’t”.
“I brought you into this world and I can take you out!”
Seem to always run into these phrases when the heat is on…
“Boy, your going to get it!”
Get WHAT… What are we going to do?
Do you want me to stop this car?
Brush your teeth or they’ll fall out
Santa is watching you!
Were you born in a barn? and don’t make me stop this car are the two I use the most. Our kids were all adopted and they know it so they will answer maybe, you weren’t there, so I am trying to not use that one anymore.
One that I have never and will never use is “Children should be seen and not heard.” I always hated that. But I use the basic cliches all the time and I don’t have a problem with it. “We don’t have a money tree” or “Were you raised in a barn?”
You better watch it or your face is going to freeze that way!
Just because you friend does it/ has it, doesn’t mean you need it. If they jumped off a bridge…..
Do you want me to give you something to cry about?
Do I look like I am made of money?
There are starving children in the world who would love that…
I can find plenty for you to do. (When they say I’m bored.)
Well, I guess I use more than I thought because I could keep going on!
I kick myself everytime I say it “because I am the MOM” ! Like that don’t already know that !
I have eyes in the back of my head(now that is just silly but it has been said)
And we say if your friends jumped off a cliff would you (can’t help that one it just comes out)
Because I said so what other reason do you need
“Just because you think it, does not mean it needs to be said out loud!!”
I wouldn’t say it is necessarily my favorite but it is the one I use the most…”because I said so” I use to always tell my mom to give me a real reason and that I would never say that when I became a mom, but it really is because I said so….:-) I’m not sure which one I dislike the most…probably “santa is watching you” my mom never said that but I don’t like that one. I don’t ever remember believing in Santa, I always knew my parents got me gifts.
I always swore I would have patience w/ my kids asking questions. It’s the way that they learn and we also (against many’s advice) allow our kids to question why… again; if they know the reason for something it’s easier for them to deal with.
So for me… these two are the worse:
#1 – after the 10th time answering why “Because I am the Mom”
#2 – after 100 questions “Enough already!”
Keep Living!
O my goodness! this is to funny! I have said all the above. and Now it is joke between us! Watching the Lady “I said SO! on youtube is sayin it the bEST!! a must watch!
One of my favs is I can stop the car and you can walk home.
Dont make me turn this car around!
Because I said So!
Just wait until your father get’s home.
Because I said so!
Do what you want, you’re going to do it anyway!
“Don’t run with that stick in your hand!”
This one I am not ashamed to say. Running with a stick is not safe. However, the first time I said it I felt like I was channeling my mother and that was pretty scary.
Mom: “Do you want a spanking?”
child: ‘no’
Mom: “Then I suggest you stop that.”
So silly because what kid EVER wants a spanking?? I never did and I find myself saying this to my son and he’s doing the same thing I did.
Is that food? NO?? – then don’t put it in your mouth!!!
My kids always ask why. I respond with-why do you think? They know the answer is “because you said so”. I have also told my children to close her mouth and eat when they just cannot concentrate on eating rather than talking. After I say it I just hope that they don’t come back with “how can I eat if my mouth is closed”
Hold blades of scissors DOWN while WALKING. I still do that, at the age of 62!
What you want and what you get are usually two different things! I find myself saying this all the time to my seven year old.
I didn’t realize you had a problem catching your breath! We need to have the doctor check you sighing when he checks out your eyes rolling around in your head! OR Just remember I have wished a child for you just like you have been to me! And then I AM GOING TO LAUGH!!!!!
You can get glad in the same pants you got mad in!
and
Your mother does not run a restaurant, sit down and eat! (my husband’s favorite!)
After telling us something and having to repeat it, my mom would always say, “I’ve told you 27 times to____________” It was always 27! I’ve caught myself saying the same phrase only I use 47…no idea why, but I do!
My fav is “Be the shepherd not the sheep”.
I always hated, “We’ll see” and occasionally mentally slap myself for using it.
I also found myself using, “I’ll stop this car,” quite sincerely. The one time I did, utter silence from the back seat.
The two I remember my mom saying the most are “We don’t have a money tree in the backyard, you know”, and “If all of your friends jumped off a bridge, would you too?” And of course the famous “Because I said so!!”….I use that one the most with my boys LOL
“I am not so and so’s mother, I’m your mother!”
I also swore I would never say “because I said so” but after enduring the ‘why’s’ of a 3 year old I completely understand, sympathize and encourage of the free use of this phrase!
I felt the same way, and now 100% understand and agree with you!
#1….Do you think I was put on this earth just to pick up after you? #2….If you don’t knock it off I will slap you into the middle of next week OR my favorite #3 …..I have been on this earth long enough that I think I know what I am talking about
Since my mom is cool. And has been RIGHT. I use all the gems she did with pride.
I figure I am the person I am because of her. So why not use them on my own daughter!
“Close the door, we aren’t heating the outside”
I have used all my mother’s “Because I said so”, but I have begun to use my own phase “It must feel terrible to be loved,” when my teenager doesn’t get to do whatever everyone else get to do.
“we’ll see”.
#1 Because I am the mom, and I am in charge, that’s why!
#2 There are hungry children all over the world who would be happy to have just one of those carrots (or what every veggie)
#3 How many times do I have to say it before you do it?
#4 I am your mother, NOT your maid, do it yourself!
If you kids don’t stop yelling for me, I am going to change my name to sh*t and forbid you to swear!
– I love that one
that is a good one, I like that…..lol
i’ve used the “eat your dinner ’cause there’s starving kids all over the world that would love to eat that!”
shameful, just shameful LOL
LOL! I say that one a lot too.
When my children are repeatedly doing something that may hurt enough to stun them, but not seriously hurt them, I always tell them…..”Don’t ask me to take you to the Dr. when you fall and hurt yourself”…..or “go ahead and try it, but don’t ask me to kiss your boo boo when you fall.” Not ment literaly of course, but frequently, the threat of no consolement seems to make them listen
If all your friends wanted to jump off a bridge, would you want to also?
Because I said so!
I say that phrase all the time!!
I have said that one myself…..lol….good one!!!
Two wrongs do not make a right. My mom said alot of them so someday my 8 siblings and I will write them down.
I have used ” eat your dinner, if you were in Africa you would dead by know”
“Use your words!”
“Sweetie, life isn’t fair” (after child yells, “That’s not fair!”). I refuse to use “Wait til your father gets home” because that just takes all my authority and gives it to him. I giggled when I used the “Don’t say anything!” and then promptly demanded an answer to a question… I have used the “Because I said so” when I vowed never to use it. Mostly though I like our self-created rule… When my sister and I fought (which we did constantly) my mom would let it go until she couldn’t stand it anymore, then make us sit on our beds (we shared a room) and look at each other saying nothing. The instant she walked out of the room we were best friends. I tried that and it didn’t work, so instead when my girls are mean to each other, I make them do everything holding hands for a while. It usually calms them down pretty quickly and forces them to cooperate.
I said, “Hang your clothes us or they’ll look like a rag!” just like my mom…sigh
Whoops, that should read, “Hang your clothes UP or they’ll look like a rag!”
The one I use the most, which truly has no effect is “We’ll see”. My 7 year old daughter knows already that we’ll see mainly means no. I have also harped about the starving children in the world when dinner is not finished. Basically, I channel my mother on a regular basis, not that I will admit it to her.
When she is doing something reckless, I always says, after I’ve warned her multiple times, “Don’t expect me to drive you to the hospital when you break your leg”.
Know that one well!!!
I find myself using middle names when trying to get my point accross. Mary Jane I told you to clean your room!
I use that one too. I like it when people say, “you must really want their attention to us all their names. My kids have two middle names too.
Because I’m the mother and you’re the child.
If you don’t stop messing around, you’re gonna fall and crack your head open…and I’m not gonna feel bad.
People are not for hitting!! (personal favorite, I use this at work too)
Wont get upset if i turn out to be like my mom she was great. Raised 9 of us by herself and no one got into trouble
SOOOO awesome to have a mom like that!!! Not nearly enough in the world…
i always tell daughter that ur gonna eat all ur food because someone went without tonight.
If you dont stop crying imma give u something to cry about.
when your kids say they hate you….
” well i am not particularly fond of you right now either!”
lol, I’ve said that too when my kids say “I hate you”. Nope, not too fond of you either right now!
for bad language or talking back….
I’m getting the soap and then really get it and a little on the teeth will teach em!! It works far better than spanking!!
I am starting a business based on those “momisms”! They’re t-shirts that have the sayings on the back. My company is called Mommie Said….! Mommie Said….. is on Facebook and so is my list of sayings! I love ‘em!! It cracks me up that I sound JUST LIKE MY MOM!! And she gets a big kick out of it too! She always says “it’s just payback!!”! I’ll have my website up soon so that everyone can see what I’ve got going. I’ve just place and order for four dozen shirts. That’s twelve of four different sayings and I”m also working on my God Said….. line which are funny sayings that God might say to us if He were down here on our level! The prototype that my screen printer is working on is “Chill…I got this!”…..That’s what I imagine He says to me when I get worried about stuff. Anway, spread the word! I can be reached at shannon.parrett@yahoo.com!
Shannon Parrett
“You fart around and you fart around, then you miss the bus!”
I like to use that one too. My daughter still farts around in the morning.
I’m not a cafe, you’ll eat what you’re given!!
“Shut the door, you are letting all the cold (or hot) air out!”
I hate “do you want me to give you something to cry about?” Although I’ve caught myself wanting to say it!
BECAUSE I’M THE MOMMY, THAT’S WHY!
Top momisms I use:
Because I said so
I brought you into the world and I can take you out
Our last name is not Rockefeller, we don’t have maids and butlers
Do you think you live in a barn
If you want something to cry about I’ll give you something to cry about and it’s companion phrase If you’re bored I’ve got plenty for you to do (works everytime!)
and the all time winner…..
Just wait until you have kids…then you’ll understand!
And a few more I use:
My house, my rules. When you live in your own house you can make your own rules
You don’t live in so and so’s house.
Don’t make me come out there!
If you don’t go to bed Santa will fly over without stopping (only on Xmas eve but virtually guaranteed to get them in bed at a early hour!)
or if they’ve just lost a tooth if you don’t go to bed the tooth fairy won’t come
The one I like best is “Just eat one bite, I promise it won’t kill you, and if it does then you don’t have to eat any more!” I used that one on my son when he wouldn’t eat his veggies.
I use this one all of the time. “You may not like me right now or even love me but, you’re going to respect me.”
Another of my faves is, “Don’t bother me unless something is bleeding, broken or hanging off.”
I love my kids and they are great kids but, sometimes………..
The one I like most is “just wait till I get you home.” “Don’t let me have to tell you again.” I used this one on my boys when they were bigger than me and teenagers. “you have to sleep sometime.”
My mom was notorious for the “starving kids in China” saying. Also, when I was a teen with a broken heart she would say
‘there are plenty of fish in the sea” that never helped so I vowed never to say it to my kids which I stuck too, however that’s about all I stuck too. LOL! Another one used by both parents was, “When in Rome, do as the romans do.
Terri…I swore I wouldn’t say the fish in the sea thing, too. Instead I have said to my daughter, never settle sweetheart, when you meet the one, you’ll know, it like meeting God and you can’t breathe. Guys are stepping stones in a river, you have to learn how to get across first.
I love to paraphrase Dr. Seuss, “How do you know you don’t like it Sam I Am?”
I constantly say “No monkeys jumping on the bed” and “this house is not a jungle gym”
and one I got from my dad, “I said stand right here.” and he would give us a long lecture and ask “do you want me to whip you?” like we were gonna say yes, but I’ve used that one too.
My top 10..
1…don’t you roll your eyes up to him…he’s on my side!
2…I brought you into this world!
3…I shared my body with you for 40 weeks and still nursed you for 2 years, no, I don’t want to share my (seat, water, ice cream..)
4…when you point that finger, 4 more point back at you!
5…one wrong plus one wrong is what? exactly..still 2 wrongs..did the equation change? Both of you apoligize and hug.
6…brothers will argue and fight but will always be the bestest of friends forever…
7…there is no such thing as a step-anything in this house..she’s your sister/ brother, suck it up!
8…repeat after me..I will flush the toilet, I will flush the toilet…
9…I don’t care who started it, both of you in corners, you work as a team, you go down as a team!
10…would you do that at Grandma and Grampa’s house? Then don’t do it in mine!
I forgot the best one! I have said this one to all 4 off my kids, I can’t believe it slipped by till I just said it to my son…There is a time to be your friend and there is a time to be your mom, right now, I am NOT your friend! Now you WILL listen to my voice…can you here me?
“Eat your food and don’t be waistfull…you know there are starving children all over the world”
you must think i’m stupid or something. i was your age once i know the game better than you do.
“Enjoy this trip. It will be your last.”
my mom always used to say things like “how do you like them apples” and “people in hell want ice water”. to this day i still laugh when i think about some of the things she would say to us, or just a certain look she would give us when we started to get rowdy when she’d get on the phone or go to get the laundry or go to use the restroom…etc. you know what i mean, the look that moms give when theyre trying to tell you “i’m not playing around” without having to actually say it. i remember if we were misbehaving in church or the grocery store she would ask if we had to go to the bathroom and grab ahold of her purse, in which she kept a belt…you know when it was still actually ok to correct or disipline your children. (we grew up in the “spare the rod, spoil the child” generation and we turned out just fine!) i still cracks me up, especially when i find myself saying some of those sayings to my son and giving him “the look”.
When my brother and I fought with each other when were children, my mother would say “Stop it or I will knock your heads together”! And if our fighting went on, she would actually bonk our heads together. (people didn’t realize that this action could actually cause brain damage back then and luckily it only happened with the bonk once or twice so the threat became quite enough to so stop us in our tracks.) But I promised myself, that I would never make a threat that I would not carry out and in addition, I promised to NEVER bonk my children’s heads together. However, One day, I heard myself make the same threat to my two bickering sons. I was so horrified that I had broken my promise to myself and on top of that I was frightened that I might carry it out so in that flash second I decided to make the treat so ridiculous that it could never happen so I added “and then I am going to tear you heads off and bounce them like basketballs all around the house, juggle them in the air and when I put them back on your heads you’ll be the other one.” We were all so shocked that suddenly we all started laughing and one of my sons said, Oh Mom, you are so silly, you would never do that, you love us.” That was one time when I missed the dreaded Momism Bullet.
I dont know if you could call this a momism, but I cannot stand it when I hear moms doing the count, you know, “im gonna count to 3 and if you dont stop, I swear…” and they usually get to three before the kid stops, so annoying.
My favorite mom thing to say is “if you dont clean up your room I will throw all of your toys away” Its so mean I know, but I only use it when shes been absolutely defiant, which is not often
if you keep acting up we’re gonna take a trip to the bathroom!……this works when out in public like a restaurant.
I admit I use almost all of those..with a couple of others..
if you don’t clean your room to my satisfaction..anything left out is fair game for me to give to the poor kids…
I complained that my son was really expensive @ christmas 1 year..he caught me and said but I thought santa brought my presents..I said who do you think gives santa money for your toys? So now he asks if I paid santa yet for his toys and did I send enough for fill in the blank toy…
One day you may be bigger than me..but I can still take you out..lol
My Mom and my favorite saying, “You know there are starving kids in other countries that would long to have that food that you are not eating.”
“if that’s the worst that’s happened to you, consider yourself lucky!” One of her favorites…
“if they’re talking about you; they aren’t talking about someone else”….one of mine—still doesn’t ease the pain, but the “yogi berra—ness” of it always makes me smile.
I love repeating the things my Mom use to say to me. I would tell my kids that using foul language is not necessary and demonstrates a lack of intelligence. I remember overhearing my 20 year old telling her little half brother that same thing. It made me smile.
My favorite Mommism was….this is not a democracy, it is a queendom, and I am the Queen.
How about this old one: “Pretty is as pretty does.”
IF YOU LAY DOWN WITH DOGS YOU GET UP WITH FLEAS..
My Dad use to always say – Keep your nose clean. Still not too sure what that means exactly.. ha ha. Guess it meant – stay out of trouble.
My mom’s favorite was, “I’ll tell your Daddy”.
I try my best not to say that to my kids — especially when they were small — I did not want them to think he was the boogie man or something along those terms -
- Lisa g.
I brought you into this world and I can take you out! LOL
When I would ask for something my mom would say “Wish in one hand, s*** in the other, see which one gets filled up faster.
When my children tell me I am mean, I simply tell them, “Fine I’ll go get you a new mommy”. Works everytime, their little defiant attitudes seem to just go away.
Frequently I have said to my daughter; “You have more excuses than Carter has liver pills”. One day she said “Stop, why do you say that, I don’t even know what liver pills are!” I replied: “Because when you grow up you’ll say the same thing to your children, and then say “Oh no, I’ve become my mother!”
“Don’t make me come in there!”
“What do you MEAN, you can’t find your (insert lost object here)?? If I have to come in there and find it myself, you’re in some real trouble, mister!”
“That’s it; you’re grounded!!”
And my all-time fave…”If I ever spoke to MY mother that way…” You can follow that one up with whatever horror you want to. Nearly all of them work to shut down a child who is lipping off, lol!
my all time favorite to tell my 18 month old is “daddys coming home and hes MAD” she runs and grabs her barney, sits by the door, and wont let me open it… daddy enforces the naughty chair which humiliates her… perfect punishment!
When daddy knocks all you hear is ” No naughty mommy NO NO NO!
this one came from my grandma “PAPAWS ON HIS WAY AND HE’S ANGRY”
I think the one thing I really carried over from my Mom (other than such stuff as “You make a better door than a window”) was “Well, we’re not (insert name)” when they would say, but “so and and” or “everybody” does/has whatever. One time I upped the ante – I offered to let one of my kids move permanently to the other home – boy did that stop her in her tracks.
that should have read “but so and so” or “everybody” does/has whatever