"Why haven't you got your pyjamas on yet? It's nearly 10 o'clock." "No it isn't, it's only 20 to 10." deep breath. "Why haven't you got your pyjamas on yet? It's approaching 10 o'clock." note, bedtime was nine o'clock
Thank you for sharing your little story with us. I know I have to be careful how I word things with my husband who has hearing aids but only wears them when he goes out so around the home I need to make sure he hears my first words or he gets my stories wrong! and when he misses the first words it totally can change what I have said to him.
indeed ... years ago I was at camp with our pupils (13 year olds) .... we went on day trips and the children had to prepare their lunchbox in the morning .... everyone had a lunch box and bread and fillings was on the tables .... one of the colleagues said aloud to the whole group: spread your sandwiches and put them in your backpack .... they all smeared their sandwiches - put them in the lunchbox and then the lunchbox in the backpack ... everyone except a boy who needed the instruction ... put the sandwiches in your lunch box and put the lunchbox in your backpack ...
My children were very good and listening to the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law, once I changed that and held them accountable to the spirit of the law (bedtime is 9 pm) the rest just disappeared. But my DS2 is in his last year studying law and I am convinced his arguing with me since the age of two helped him along the way. Love the deep breath - we need that all too often.
Bless you, Angela! I could have typed almost that exact conversation with my 13 year old. It can be 5 minutes until 10 and if I say "it's 10, time for bed", I get "no, it's not. It's 9:55" *sigh*
I am a tyrant, I know. But, am also an early go to bed woman! Give me that hour of power in the morning!! At 5 til the hour, that is now bedtime for my boys.. "oh I have to go the bathroom," " get my backpack," " give you the 100th hug," and "write down this formula to cure the common cold" ....lol Lights out at the top of hour, or they lose an additional 10 minutes the next night. and still after all my 10 year old yells out, "goodnite, I love you!" ♥♥♥ and everynight I smile and go, love you too J..sleep tight precious boy I know he jumps into bed the winner, but I think we may share that trophy!
This is my daughter to a T. We call her the Technicality Police. My son can't read or tell time yet but he knows his numbers and is constantly correcting me on what time it is. It has made me question why we tell time the way we do, actually, as it is rather confusing that each number on the clock stands for itself plus itself X 5. He will tell me it's 6-6 when it's 6:30, and he's not wrong.
All The Time!!! Yet when she asks me what time it is I point to the clock and she no longer knows how to tell time.
This is so true! And ditto on the"no it's not". It's almost 8:30, get to bed. "No, it's 8:22." That is almost in my book!!