The Old Folks Home

[dsqard]

dsqard, I'm going to have the most beautiful children, and they'll be super smart too. Probably the best children in the history of children on this planet.

You're too late. These children came from me already.

 

[Alaskan]

@subhanalah
 I was brought up with sarcastic jokes, although I was also one of those annoyingly smart kids. I think I was 10 when I realized that I was more intelligent than my mother (at least within some subjects). Nowadays I'm more average.

I think being ironic and sarcastic with kids is fine as long as you explain it to them.

I actually think it is good, because then they aren't confused when they encounter it away from the home. And, it is a great way to explain how important tone and inflection can be, how the same words when said differently can be funny, rude, or kind.

 

[Alaskan]

dsqard, I'm going to have the most beautiful children, and they'll be super smart too. Probably the best children in the history of children on this planet.

You're too late. These children came from me already.

This is so true!

 

[sourland]

@subhanalah I was brought up with sarcastic jokes, although I was also one of those annoyingly smart kids. I think I was 10 when I realized that I was more intelligent than my mother (at least within some subjects). Nowadays I'm more average.

Our annoyingly intelligent son came to that realization at about the same age. After that he was kind enough to only ask me questions that he thought I might be able to answer.

Sarcasm and wit are great tools for raising kids to be interesting adults.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

yeah, acts of sarcasm/irony to children still in the innocent (read:gullible) stage are actually quite cruel and damaging to their psyche, lol.

Poor kids lol. Maybe just remember to always be sincere with them. That's the best gift a parent can give to a child (well...One of them, a BIG one)

Stephen Colbert doesn't allow his young children to watch his show. He doesn't want them to be confused by his over the top irony.

I think being ironic and sarcastic with kids is fine as long as you explain it to them.

I actually think it is good, because then they aren't confused when they encounter it away from the home. And, it is a great way to explain how important tone and inflection can be, how the same words when said differently can be funny, rude, or kind.

Oh, so well said.

 

[subhanalah]

I think being ironic and sarcastic with kids is fine as long as you explain it to them.

I actually think it is good, because then they aren't confused when they encounter it away from the home. And, it is a great way to explain how important tone and inflection can be, how the same words when said differently can be funny, rude, or kind.

Stephen Colbert doesn't allow his young children to watch his show. He doesn't want them to be confused by his over the top irony.

Oh, so well said.

it has to do with developmental stages. The stage I'm referring to, they are unable to comprehend those differences, even if explained to them.
(It's also rather young when this stage ends, maybe 5-6 years old? Can't remember off the top of my head.

 

[Wisher1000]

When my DD (now 27) said something that lacked intelligence, I would smile adoringly at her and say, "You're so pretty."

She hated that.

Now, I say it to my boys! They just smile, they know what I mean. They laugh out loud when I say it (sincerely) to a little girl I've just met. My boys have wonderful senses of humor. They revel in getting to say it to me when I get confused or make a mistake.

Really old age will be fun.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Our annoyingly intelligent son came to that realization at about the same age. After that he was kind enough to only ask me questions that he thought I might be able to answer.

Sarcasm and wit are great tools for raising kids to be interesting adults.

My daughter was about 10 when she thought she was smarter than both her parents when I explained to her all the things that her mother had experienced and knew that she hadn't. It slowed her down a bit. I had several of those long conversations with her.

Once, in the 8th grade, one of her friends had a "modeling gig" at an area motel that she invited my daughter to. She wanted to go and my wife said no. She was livid. My wife isn't very diplomatic. She just says no with no explanation.
I sat her down and had to explain things like s*xual slavery and how she could disappear and we would never see her again. After a lot of graphic descriptions, she understood and didn't question us on the topic again.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

When my DD (now 27) said something that lacked intelligence, I would smile adoringly at her and say, "You're so pretty."

She hated that.
...

Love that one too.

 

[subhanalah]

When my DD (now 27) said something that lacked intelligence, I would smile adoringly at her and say, "You're so pretty."

She hated that.

Now, I say it to my boys!  They just smile, they know what I mean.  They laugh out loud when I say it (sincerely) to a little girl I've just met.  My boys have wonderful senses of humor.  They revel in getting to say it to me when I get confused or make a mistake.

Really old age will be fun. :/

Love that one too.

when an older person in my family says something ignorant (or just plain dumb) we just say "I love you, Mom"