This post was originally published in August 2007.
Since we all know that repeating ourselves (and repeating ourselves...and repeating ourselves...) is the name of the game in parenting, we might as well as make it snazzy. Hubs and I seem to have developed a treasure trove catch-phrases that we use over and over. If you were to pop in to the Dryer house, this is what you'd likely hear....
"Take what you get and don't throw a fit."
Every single mom I've ever met uses this one. I think that when you're distracted by the throes of labor, the hospital must inject it directly into your brain.
"I am my brother's keeper."
My Hubs initiated this one with our boys--it's taken (very loosely) from Scripture. He has given them numerous rousing speeches about the virtues of brotherhood--really, you can almost hear the violins playing the background. In moments of brotherly bickering Hubs has been known to call out, "I am?...." and the boys chant back (sometimes through gritted teeth) "..my brother's keeper."
We're going to conveniently ignore that the Scripture being referenced is, in fact, the story of one brother murdering another. Though there are days when that seems all too relevant.
"Different is good."
We've used this one with Adam since he was very little. He's not always the best at adapting to change, and we've had to coax him off a few figurative ledges by having him repeat with us, "Different is good."
I'm predicting this one will come back to bite us someday when Stephen (who most certainly does not have trouble deviating from the norm) comes home with purple hair and an nose-ring.
"See a need, fill a need."
We lifted this one straight from the movie Robots. Loosely translated, it's a nice way to say, "get your duff off the couch and feed the dog without being asked. Please."
"If you're gonna play rough, you've gotta be tough."
A friend taught us this one, and we happily pull it out when there is tackle football going on in the living room. It's basically a new-and-improved version of "it's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt," or "Don't come cryin' to me!"
"Blood, barf, bones or bad guys?"
This is my favorite one. Sometimes, a momma needs the older kids to prioritize their needs before interrupting. "Don't come in here unless it's an emergency" wasn't working for my brood, because they think a misplaced Nerf ball is reason enough to call in the Special Forces.
So, I got a little more specific. When I need a few minutes of alone-time to accomplish something, the kids know to interrupt me ONLY if they see blood, vomit, a bone sticking out somewhere or a villain scaling the side of our house.
And really, it just warms this momma's heart to picture them sitting around living room after my funeral someday, reminiscing about their sweet mother, and they will chant, "blood, barf, bones or bad guys," and OH, how their hearts will be warmed.
I'm turning this over to you all now. I KNOW you're bound to have some good catch-phrases you use repeatedly with your kids--let's hear them.
