The Seven Most Annoying Phrases, in my opinion are:
1. "Are we there yet?" I don't know where my 4 year old picked up this one, but we had been in the car all of 10 minutes last weekend and from the backseat we get the "are we there yet?" IT HAS BEEN 10 MINUTES!!! We've contemplated driving across country with the girls in about a year and a half, when we will likely move back to the east coast, and now I'm thinking really?! She's asking "are we there yet" after 10 minutes. How many times would we be asked in a week of driving?
2. "I'm hungry." OK, this is an important one when used in appropriate context. However, it would seem that they use this just whenever they want attention. They don't want to go to bed - they're hungry. You're on the phone - they're hungry. It's time to leave the house - they're hungry. I'm obviously all for feeding our children an appropriate and healthy amount of food, but really kids?!?! It's like the boy that cried wolf. If you say it constantly, how are we going to know if you are ever actually hungry.
3. "I'm not hungry." The opposite of number 2. This one is used when you actually want your children to eat. Seemingly most frequently used when you are out and have actually spent more money than you should on their food. Also used when at someone else's house, when they have graciously invited you to share a meal with them. Of course, they are sometimes actually not hungry, in which case we obviously don't want to force them to eat. Side note - when you finally just let them skip eating said meal after being told 800 times that they aren't hungry, this is usually followed shortly by the aforementioned "I'm hungry", about five minutes after you leave the restaurant or other location.
4. "I'm not tired." Do I even need to go into more detail here? This is not only annoying but it's terrifying when you hear this one. Because it is, of course, most often said when they are exhausted. It is often accompanied by whining, yelling, and maybe even a full blown tantrum if you are lucky. And sometimes, it is even followed with.... SLEEP. That's a parenting win!!
5. "Can I get "insert any item here"?." I know, we all want things. But it seems like kids just want every single thing they see some days. I try to do my grocery shopping on days when my 4 year old has school so that I can avoid being asked for things while we are shopping. Unfortunately, little L is becoming very verbal at almost 2 and she's starting to point out things with her favorite characters (Minnie Mouse, Elmo, any princess ever). I think it is a very short time until she will start asking and throwing a fit for every doodad we walk past.
6. "I need a band-aid (or ice pack)." Really?! Every time they suffer the most minor of injuries, they need one of these two items. M went through a phase where we seemed to be going through band-aids like water. Yes, I could have refused the requests more often, so I was clearly a band-aid enabler, but it didn't feel like a battle I wanted to fight, so I went with it. The good news is that she did seem to outgrow it and we have now had the same two boxes of band-aids in the cupboard for about a year. Side note on the ice pack - when they actually get hurt to the extent that you want them to use an ice pack (say forehead meets concrete), they always fight you and throw it to the ground. Really children?
7. "Why?" I'm not even going to say anything more about this one. If you are a parent, that one word is enough said.
Next time your sweet little cherub pops out one of these sayings (or one of the many other fun little cliched sayings that they all seem to know), just know that you are not alone. Somehow they ALL know these phrases. Sometimes when I feel like I'm going to start fuming, I just say one or more of their annoying phrases right back at them. Of course, that usually results in a tantrum or a "mom, you're being annoying to me". Really?!? I'M annoying YOU? Awesome.
Anyone have any items to add to the list? Feel free to comment below.