Things Children Should Never Say to Their Parents

When I was a young child I once heard my grandmother say to my grandfather: "He's a bright boy, but sometimes I worry about him. He's not like the other kids." Now, I don't know if this further damaged my wounded child or not, but it didn't bother me at the time. I did wonder what she meant by that statement, but mostly I was glad that I wasn't like the other kids. I knew the "other kids" and who'd want to be like them? Not me.

The only thing that really bothered me when I was a kid was an incident instead of something that was said. When I was in the eighth grade, the teacher brought in an old lawn mower engine. Four of us kids were allowed to take it apart and see how it worked. We did OK until we came to the wheel that sat on top. The teacher told us that we would need a wheel pulley to remove it, but he didn't have one. "I think I could get one." I proudly announced.

The reason I said that was I knew that my uncle Ken probably had one. He was my favorite uncle and a father figure to me. My real dad had left when I was three. He told me yes he had one, but he didn't want to loan it to me. It was a delicate tool and he was afraid I would break it. I asked him if I could borrow it if I came up with the money it cost. He reluctantly said yes.

I checked my money box. It had a few crumpled dollar bills and some loose change. I counted it all up. I was about 50 cents short of the price for the tool that my uncle had told me. I put the money in a plastic bag and went to see my uncle. I handed him the money and he asked me if it was all there. I said: "No, it was a little short." He replied: "Just forget it. I don't have time to mess around with this!" He threw the money at my feet.

I was devastated. I had to go into class the next day and tell everybody I couldn't get the tool when I had promised that I could. At least it wasn't as bad as in that Southpark episode where this kid said that his mother had tried to stab him through the heart with a coat hanger when he was still in her womb.

Seems like we all have a wounded child lurking within us. You always hear about the things that you should not say to your children. Things that could damage them like: "Just leave! Get out of here. I'm busy right now. Don't bother me. Or Shut up!"

Other phrases that fill up the wounded child hurt box include; "Be more like your sister/brother. Don't cry. Don't be sad. And Stop Crying." The list goes on and on. Maybe there should be a handbook that you can check before you say anything to your child. Wait. There probably is.

But what about some things that your child shouldn't be saying to you? According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, some of the things that children should never say to their parents include things like: "It's not fair! I hate you! Shut up! You're stupid!" This last one is often said with a rolling of the eyes.

A good rule of thumb for teenagers is that they shouldn't say anything to their parents that they wouldn't say to their teacher, coach, or their boss at work. Parents deserve the same amount of respect, if not more.

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/relationships-and-special-occasions/parenting/article_253b0aba-7ed1-5b8b-890d-d5ae5de6bea7.html