I've decided I need a FAQ. After all, these Qs are A'd very F. So frequently that I find it difficult to get anything else done at times. For some reason, everyone wants to know when dinner is, and no one wants to know, say, where they should put their dishes.
Q: How long until dinner?
A: Dinner is at six p.m. The time left to elapse until dinner is the time between now and the next time the clock is at six p.m. For example, if it is one p.m., dinner will be in five hours. If it is nine a.m., dinner will be in nine hours.
Q: Is dinner ready yet?
A: You will know that dinner is ready when I say something appropriate, such as, "time for dinner!" You can also consult any clock. Is it six p.m.? Rest assured that I will not forget to mention to you that dinner is being served.
Q: Can we have X for dinner?
A: No. Especially given that it's half past five and what you asked for is lamb roast.
Q: Why do _I_ have to do this?
A: Because I don't love you as much as the other children/dog. And/or you're the closest person. And/or I do 95% of the home care around here and your father does the other 5%, so stop whining about picking up your own darn socks, or about the possibility that you may put away a toy that belongs to your brother/sister.
Q: Are we there yet?
A: Is the car running? Are we still walking? Yes? Then no.
Q: Do I _have_ to?
A: . . .
Added by request:
Q: Do I have to go to bed?
A: Child, it is in your own best interests to go to bed. You wouldn't like the person I turn into when the clock strikes eight.
Q: But whhhhhhhhhhhy?
A: The next person who whines is going to boarding school in Siberia.
Your blog is providing me with much-appreciated entertainment while I'm working late. :)
ReplyDeleteYour FAQs also reminded me of a discussion I had at work with a partner here who was complaining about her kids taking their shoes off in the car and not putting them back on until after they get to wherever they're going, causing a delay. I had to break it to her that she may still be dealing with that when her kids are 30 -- I still do that to this day, much to my mom's annoyance.
That's why I put them in cowboy boots. They're harder to lose, and two-year-olds put them on themselves . . . unfortunately, both boys think that "getting comfortable" means taking off their _pants_.
ReplyDeleteThey're going to be arrested at this rate.