Come on, fess up....how many of you find yourselves saying this to your kids?

I have to admit that I do, and more often than I want to. I try my best to explain to the kids why I want them to do the things I do. But after 40 thousand ;) questions, I usually end up back at "Just do it because I said to".

By Sunny on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 01:19 pm:

Umm...I thought it was my right as a mom to use that phrase whenever I want to???

By Ginnyk on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 01:36 pm:

Actually, what I said was "because I'm a mean mother". My son, who recently moved back with me, and I were reminiscing about this a few nights ago.

By Semperspencer on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 01:43 pm:

Ginny, I'm going to have to use that line! LOL

By Pamt on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 02:18 pm:

I used to vow that I would NEVER say that. However a friend of mine once made a very good point to me. At some time kids need to be obedient simply for the sake of obedience. Like if you tell them not to run out in the road they don't need the lecture of "because it is dangerous, etc." That is one instance when "Because I said so!" is simply good enough--LOL.

By Candace on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 02:22 pm:

I say "Because I am your mommy and I said so" all the time to my son. The other day, he was driving me crazy with not listening and I caught myself saying "I am not talking to hear myself talk", then I turned around to my husband and my aunt and I said "Wow, I sound like my parents". It was an eye opener. I used to think I would never say such things to my kids. HAHA

By Truestori on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 03:19 pm:

I always say, I am the adult around here..lol

By Bellajoe on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 05:40 pm:

I usually say "Because i said so" or "because i'm the mommy, and i'm the boss!" I'm am so tired of hearing the whiny "why?" And yes, i do end up sounding like my mom alot of the times.

By Brandy on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

I do say it and then like if the boys say something to the extent of well they are doing it and i'm like well i'm not thier mom...!

By Feona on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 07:04 pm:

Sounds like a good reason to me!

By Ginnyk on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 08:30 pm:

The story behind "because I'm a mean mother" has a couple of pieces. One is that this big-eyed little boy of about 5 looked up at me through the back screen door and said, "Greg says you're a mean mother. Are you?" To which, given my mood at the moment, I replied "yes, I am". (I've always felt a little guilty, and that I owe this little kid an apology.)

Another is that I realized at some point that if I say "because I'm a mean mother", it does a couple of things. First, it takes the sting out of it if I say it first, before my sons say it. Second, my sons were then faced with either agreeing with what I had already said, or saying "oh no you're not" (often, of course, while thinking, of course she is). It was a win-win situation for me. Most of the time we all laughed, and they went ahead and did what I was telling them to do (or refrained, while I was watching, from what I wanted them to stop). But after I started saying "because I'm a mean mother", I never heard the "mommy, you're mean" or "you're mean and I don't love you" comments I have heard other mothers being sad about. And it really stopped the debating and whining. There's not really much a kid can say after you say "because I'm a mean mother".

In general, I find if you say the criticizing thing about yourself first, before the person you are debating with has a chance to say it, it tends to defuse things. So I am quick to say, in some debates, "of course, I am biased", or, "of course, I am a very stubborn person", or, as I often say here, "speaking as a lefty-liberal".

By Chelleb on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 09:08 pm:

Juile I say that all the time.

By Marcia on Thursday, June 5, 2003 - 10:53 pm:

I say it all the time ... "because I said so, and that's the only reason you need!".

By Jujubee on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 06:10 am:

LOL, Ginny that was a funny story. My oldest son is 10 (will be 11 in July), he is constantly telling me "You're so mean". I always answer, "I sure am, you want to be grounded?". Of course he says no and marches off! LOL

I'll tell you another one that bugs me and how I handle it. I am constantly hearing "Uncle Mark said I could" or "Grandma lets me" or any other of those phrases when I say no to something. My response:

"ASIDE FROM GOD AND YOUR DADDY I AM THE SUPREME BEING IN YOUR LIFE,".

That always ends the conversation! LOLOLOL ;)

By Kittycat_26 on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 08:37 am:

Jujubee,

That comment I love. I hope I remember it as Timmy gets older. I don't know if I'll be able tos ay it with a straight face though.

By Jenn on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 09:37 am:

I say that all the time to Jessica. She will ask me why a million times and I do try to explain different things, but then after a few dozen times, I will tell her because I said so. Sometimes she will ask why and then I follow it with the I'm the boss that's why.

By Mommyathome on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 10:52 am:

I say...Because I said so...and Because I'm the mom, that's why.

By Barbara on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 07:13 pm:

Been there done that and own the T shirt....
when my daughter was 6 she bought me a shirt with a big teddy bear on it telling a little teddy bear...Because i'm the mother, That's why !

By Jenn on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 08:09 pm:

I have shirts for Jessica and I. Jessica's has, "But Why?" and mine has, "Because I said so."

By Chelleb on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 12:55 pm:

julie that is so funny(uncle mark said i could).
Some of you might not know julie is my sister-in-law and mark is my dh.