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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ban my children from saying certain words?

26 replies

theslownorris · 30/10/2007 13:52

Such as "Why Mummy?"

I can't remember how many questions a day the average 4-y-o asks, but multiply it by 2 for twins and AAARRRGGGHHH.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 30/10/2007 13:55

'look mummy' would be banned here for sure

OrmIrian · 30/10/2007 13:57

'Why' undoubtedly should be a restricted word. No more than 10 uses permitted in one hour. Unless 'Because' is considered a reasonable answer.

'Why' is a lazy question IME. It really means 'I don't understand and I want more info but I can't be bothered to ask a sensible question'. And its a way of getting more from you without making any effort myself.

Mumcentreplus · 30/10/2007 13:57

lol...I know the feeling I have a 4 and 5 yr old I would like to ban any conversations whilst on the loo...but I know it will never happen

EmsMum · 30/10/2007 13:57

In my house, 'In a minute...'

OrmIrian · 30/10/2007 13:59

Ah but isn't 'in a minute' a double-edged sword? I use it when they want something and I'm busy or haven't worked out the answer yet. Like 'we'll see' really. Essential mummy vocabulary.

cremolafoamingatthemouth · 30/10/2007 13:59

we have banned 'OK' as a response to a yes or no question.Can't bear the answer 'ok 'or 'whatever'
my sister has banned 'stupid' as she remembers being called stupid as a child and it reallyupsets her.

MaryAnnSingletomb · 30/10/2007 14:00

ds is older, but says 'toilet' which I hate but feel bad about going on at him to say 'lavatory' or 'loo' -

captainmummy · 30/10/2007 14:00

I used to want to change my name - I swear my kids would walk into a room and jsut say 'mummy?' for no reason at all.

MaryAnnSingletomb · 30/10/2007 14:01

also - if I ask ds if he'd like something else to eat, for example, he'll reply 'No I'm alright' which drives me insane - I know you're all right - just say yes please or no th`ank you - ggrrr !

MrsArchieTheScaryInventor · 30/10/2007 14:01

When ds (just turned 4) started saying that a while ago in response to everything I said I came up with the retort 'zed', which made him laugh, but now he uses it on me in the most inappropriate places and it's hard to keep a straight face when he does. Like for instance;

Me: 'DS, why did you felt tip all over the dining table instead of using paper?'

DS: 'Because I did'

ME: 'Why?'

DS: 'Zed'

I have created a monster!!

EmsMum · 30/10/2007 14:10

Ormirian - the question was specifically about banning children from certain words. Of course not mummies!

I'd also ban 'yes' and 'no' - needs to always be 'yes please' and 'no thank you'. Not for politeness, just that it would be more comprehensible than the almost-indistinguishable noise DD makes for both (and she's 8 and CAN speak perfectly clearly)

Mumcentreplus · 30/10/2007 14:14

I say ban the word WHAT..in answer to any question.. I have already effectively done this with my rat-bags but I'm still working on DH it just sounds so rude!!

BritTex · 30/10/2007 14:15

my ds was 3ish when he discovered "stupid" as in "you are stupid". I quickly banned it and everytime he said it I would say "stupid is a bad word". of course it came back around everytime I used to like "oh this stupid computer's not working" i would hear a little voice..."mummy stupid is a bad word" ahhh!
(its amazing how much we use the word stupid).

Miaou · 30/10/2007 14:25

I used to call my dds the "why-birds" because they used to say it all day long!! I agree, it's a lazy way of forcing you to talk to them However I didn't ban it, but would make them work for an answer - if they asked "why" I would say "why what?" - to get them to think about what they were actually asking and put it into a whole sentence. Not only did it cut down on the amount of why questions I got asked but they got something out of it too!

Just waiting for ds1 (aged 26 months) to start with the "why" -ing

grendel · 30/10/2007 21:51

The phrase 'shut up' is banned in our house because whenever it is used (whether by adults or children) it is always disrespectful to the person who is speaking.

The worst swear words are banned as well, and I realised that I had not distinguished between why different words were banned when my DD (then 7) came back from a friend's house and reported with hushed horror that her friend had said 'shut up'!

Conversely the words 'bugger' and 'bollocks' are tossed around here quite freely... Inconsistent, moi?

stripeymama · 30/10/2007 21:58

I want to ban "I did it when I was three"

This is 4yo dd's response to any queries about why the wallpaper is missing/cup is broken/bathroom is flooded.

ChasingSquirrels · 30/10/2007 22:06

when oh when will the why phase end? it's not just "why" in this house, it is specific and detailed whys.

WasherChainSaurusMassacre · 30/10/2007 22:11

Oh gawd, I tried to stop my 2 yr old DS from randomly shouting "Shape Japer" (from Cbeebies Numberjacks). He now shouts ;

"ShapeJaper...No talk about Shape Japer!"

which is even more annoying.

And before you say it, he doesn't even watch the freakin programme that often grrrr!

pollywollydooooooooodle · 30/10/2007 22:18

LOL mrs archie!

i would ditch "i was speaking first"....which is always true in dds case as she never actually draws breath

and "watch me" (and variants thereof)

and "you do it!" said with a slight screech and always gets an automatic (ineffective) "not until you ask me nicely" (note to self...just ignore)

bossybritches · 30/10/2007 22:21

Sorry to depress you but I STILL can't stop my DD from prefacing nearly every sentence with

"Mummy...............???"

And she's nearly 11 !!!

demonaid · 30/10/2007 22:21

I find "why do you think?" works quite well and distinguishes a real wanting to know from random whying.

2shoescreepingthroughblood · 30/10/2007 22:22

can i ban "where's the........" as used by ds and dh

Smithagain · 30/10/2007 22:28

The word "yuk" has been banned from our dining room.

Like BritEx, I tried banning "stupid" and then discovered just how useful a word it can be

Conversations on the loo are banned, but I keep forgetting and answering her. Why does she come up with such strange questions while sitting on the loo??????

LucifersLuckyUnderpants · 30/10/2007 22:29

can i ban 'daddy' ds can't or won't say mummy so he calls me daddy! grrrr

demonaid · 30/10/2007 22:29

We are in the process of attempting to ban "stupid", "shut up" and "I don't care". I do OK on "stupid" and "shut up" but keep slipping up myself on the "I don't care" one, though .