Swearing Stunner
My 5 year old son came from school one day using a very unsavory word. My husband and I sat him down and explained why using certain language was unacceptable in our home, but a few days later, he once again uttered the same forbidden swear. I pulled his green plastic chair into the corner, and gave him a ten minute time out. A few weeks later, my husband’s boss came over to our home for dinner and we sat down to eat while my son played in the other room. My husband’s boss is a very forthright and animated woman, and she was telling us a funny story when she used the very same unsavory word in a loud voice. My son ran into the room eyes wide, pointing at my husband’s boss, yelling. “You need a time out! You need a time out!” I wanted to crawl under the table.
– Sheila from Lexington, MA
Shopping Chagrin
I was at the mall with my husband and our two children: Travis who is 6, and Taylor who is 4. The kids had behaved really well all day and after wrapping up our shopping, we were heading toward the exit when I saw a super-cute sundress displayed in one of the windows. My husband urged me to go in and quickly try it on; he said he had the kids under control. I hastily grabbed the dress and hustled into a dressing room. I guess my husband wasn’t as in control of the kids as he hoped, because after I taken off my clothes, I was left in just my skivvies when my daughter pulled the curtain to the dressing wide open, revealing me in my underwear to all the women waiting, and said, “I want to see the dress, Mommy!” Well, I wanted to see my way out of the store—quickly.
– Rhaja from New Brunswick, NJ
