One of the marvelous and disconcerting things that happens when you’ve been at this parenting thing for a while is that your kids grow up—they get old enough to be quite intelligent and independent and they are more than happy to give you direct feedback and critique of how you’ve been as a parent. All of your faults and foibles will be held up as a glowing sign for you to re-live, and you’ll find yourself surprised at some of the things you did accidentally that your children really appreciated and responded too. Recently my 17 ½ year-old was teasing and chiding me about some of my infamous mom-statements and she asked me wickedly, “Mom, how many times do you think you’ve been DONE over the years?”
You see, when I get exasperated or frustrated or just downright aggravated at things my kids are doing, or realities of family life that have worn me down, I tend to say, “Alright, I’m done! That’s it.” Of course, there is seldom anything that follows as explanation. I think I even have been known to say to a child who has pushed things to the limit: “That’s it, you’re done.” As my daughter pointed out chuckling, “Oh, all the times you’ve been done and we’ve been done, and all sorts of things in this household have been done. It’s hard to believe we’re all still here!” All I can say is that it’s probably a good thing she can laugh about it and it isn’t one of those things she’ll need to work out in therapy later.
One of my other children has a tendency to really push me on my senseless sayings and will actually say, “Yes, but what does that MEAN?” I hate that. The reality is that it doesn’t mean anything. As impeccable as I have tried to be with my communication and language, I’m still a very human, flawed single mom who gets exhausted and exasperated periodically. At the moment I say it, I really am feeling absolutely, positively DONE. Of course, it is usually the sort of termination that a long, hot bath and a walk along the river can rejuvenate.
See Also: When Do I Get to Be Smarter Again?
“When I’m a Parent I’ll Never do That!”