I remember once having a row with a guy friend over an onion.
As you do.
I was asking why, just because the ‘best before’ date was 24 hours earlier, he had felt the need to chuck out a perfectly good onion.
To be fair, this is the kind of thing that happens all the time if you get mixed up with anyone with a science background. Everything has to be done exactly according to algorithm. I once caught my ex weighing frozen peas before boiling them – because the instructions on the packet specified the correct portion size, per person. I’m more likely to throw caution to the wind and just chuck the peas in the pan.
Anyway, I asked my best friend where the onion was. “Did you chuck it out?”
He scowled. “I’m not an idiot, you know.”
Which wasn’t what I’d said. It was just what he heard. Two very different things.
I used to think this was a male quality. But it turns out that Lost in Translation thing also applies to kids. For example, on Monday evening, I said to my daughter:
“We’re a bit short on time, so while I make dinner, can you go and put on your Beavers uniform and come downstairs?”
And she obviously heard something completely different.
Like, “Hey, I wish Spiderman was here to hang out with.”
Sigh.
About Sally
Sally is a full-time blogger and founder of the MAD Blog Awards and the Tots100, a community of almost 5,000 UK parent blogs. She is also a busy single Mum to Flea, the world's coolest seven year old.
I once saw a man open a packet of cup-a-soup and measure the 250ml of water to pour over the powder in the mug. He wasn’t a scientist, just a man who never cooked.
Midlife Singlemum recently posted..In The Dark Recess Of My Mind
That is genius. I’m totally telling my best friend that one. I bet he’s done it, too.
Ah yes this happens to me too though I don’t get a visitation from Spiderman more a you said play rather than bed kinda move!
Arf! I think Flea just went up with every intention of getting her uniform on and got distracted by a REALLY COOL outfit.
I have literally just said to my darling child: Go upstairs and put your pyjamas on.
I put on my angry face. It’s the FOURTH time I’d told her in the space of as many minutes.
In reply she said: Yes, I’d love a cuddle.
Huh?
Rosie Scribble recently posted..On life, motherhood and never saying never
That’s called, “What I wish you’d said”. I applaud her optimism.
My other half weighs pasta – why? why?
Jane @ northernmum recently posted..You know you are a mum when….
Yes, I am familiar with the weighing pasta. Also the setting of the timer for EVERYTHING that is cooked. And taking out of the oven even when blindingly obvious it is STILL RAW.
Things often get lost in translation when I speak to my children. Somehow ‘Put those toys in the pink bucket, please’ becomes ‘Empty the toys out of every other bucket in the room, please’, whenever I want to get things tidied up.
Beccah (Curly Mum) recently posted..Curly Mum On The Mend
Haha, I love this. Lost in translation is a well known phenomena in my household too. Flea looks like a super cute kid!