AIBU?
To be annoyed when told 'ahhh look'
Hypotenuse · 10/07/2015 18:17
Is this a saying? When someone says 'ahhhh look at her' about my own child am I supposed to stop and look? How long for? How often in one conversation should I respond to 'ahhhh look' with just politely looking before I can flip my shit and say something like:
I am with her 24 hours a day and I look at her all the time and you're asking me to look at her over and over again while she is just sitting there, and I know she's cute but my god, I hate being told to look all the time.
Is Ms Manners here? What is the appropriate response to this? Is this a common saying where you are, am I taking it too literally? Please help.
DiseasesOfTheSheep · 10/07/2015 18:32
I understand. I hate being told to look like that. It's never anything which doesn't happen a million times a day. I think as a phrase it should be kept for the genuinely one off occasions - like when a passing magpie lands on the child's head and deposits the crown jewels onto its head, having just performed an elaborate heist on the Tower of London. Or something. I'm also quite literal, OP 
cakeandcustard · 10/07/2015 18:41
YANBU I totally get where you're coming from. Its worse when coming from DH ... 'Ahh look, she's sitting up' Yes, I know, I've just spent the last 8 hours with her, she does a lot of sitting up! Unfortunately your only recourse is to smile an nod, find your happy place and indulge them ... or organise yourself a day off 
Hypotenuse · 10/07/2015 18:55
That's completely how I feel. Funnily enough my DH said it right before I wrote this post cakeandcustard although he doesn't usually, because he knows I get so put out by it.
If it was polite chit chat with a stranger or acquaintance I'd understand. Those conversations are always full of weird sayings. But why do family torture me this way.
Hypotenuse · 10/07/2015 19:10
That helps actually cuthbert, if I think of it as 'you fantastic parent look what you've created!'
Rather than 'look at your own child who you see all the time sitting there on your knee dribbling slightly and possibly smiling. Now look again. And again.'
Birdsgottafly · 10/07/2015 19:16
"Would you look at that/her/him" is an expression used as a term of affection, it isn't literal.
It's a way of saying what/who you're looking at is fab/gorgeous without coming across as cross as creepy/inappropriate.
It's similar to "a sight for sore eyes".
ApocalypseThen · 10/07/2015 19:30
I must confess I do this. I love children and I think sometimes parents feel like people don't take notice of their kids and appreciate how lovely they are. That's all I ever mean to do, delight in the specialness of the delightful children and let the parents who work so hard know that others can see the wonder of the tinies.
Hypotenuse · 10/07/2015 19:35
Apocalypse that's a lovely thing to do, what a kind person you must be to think of doing that.
I definitely feel like some specific praise directed my way would go down very well. When people say something about her breastfeeding or being cuddled a lot, or say 'she's got the best seat in the house' when she's in a sling on me, it makes my heart swell. But 'look' makes me just errr... Look. In a baffled fashion. Perhaps it's because I wonder if she has bogies on her face or something and you're just trying to quietly point it out?
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