Saturday, May 16, 2009

a pet peeve

It's not what you say, but how you say it. I seem to be surrounded by people who don't understand this. Unless you're my parent, DO NOT tell me what to do. Know why? Because even if it's the easiest thing in the world, I will refuse to do it, just because you told me to. However, if you would like to ASK me if I would mind doing something, then I would be more than happy to oblige you. There are several variations of this whole trying to get me to do something. For example:

  • DO NOT say you'll "let me" do something. As in, "I'll let you get my bags for me." Oh, thank you. Thank you so much for LETTING me do that.
  • DO NOT say "you really should do that." Maybe I really should, but I won't because of the way you said it.
  • DO NOT ask me if I can do something on a certain day and then when I say I can, proceed to tell me that you have already scheduled it at such and such a time. Probably you should ask me BEFORE you make the appointment whether this time on this date works for me.
O.k., I'm done bitching (for at least a little while). I feel slightly better having expressed myself in all caps words.

2 comments:

Chocolates for Breakfast said...

oh, so parents ARE allowed to tell children what to do?...I think that must have been in fine print and some of my kids didn't read that far?!

Kim said...

I figure if they suffered through raising me as a teenager then they have definitely earned special privileges. Notice, though, that I didn't say I'll actually do what they tell me to do; just that they can tell me what to do! :)