Lately, this has become my son’s response to requests that come from me. I remind you that my son is currently 15 and all sorts of challenging! He isn’t being obviously rude, but it is more a covert way of putting me off without either ignoring my requests or saying something snarky. I am not sure, however, if this is a step forward or a step backward. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell with teenagers!
“Could you please take your dirty socks upstairs?” is the request that comes from me upon finding that he has balled them yet again by the back door where he took off his sneakers. He answers from the kitchen where he is pouring his 3rd huge serving bowl of cereal since coming home: “Sure, I’ll get right on that.” Translated, I have learned that this doesn’t really mean that he is going to drop everything and come rushing to grant my request. Instead, it means that he will eventually do it; he’s taking it under advisement; but “right on that” really just means “eventually.”
I suppose I should be grateful that he isn’t grunting or passing by me without saying anything at all which I have heard is typical of the teenage boy in many families. My son has actually become increasingly social since turning fifteen and while he still has some questionable behaviors and angry outbursts, I do notice that he seems to be trying out different ways of interacting. Plus, I think he thinks he is being darn witty and pulling one over on mom.
I’m thinking that I might start using it with him, though, just to put a little kink in his plan. Perhaps tonight when he asks me when I’m going to make dinner, I’ll answer: “Yeah…I’ll get right on that.”
Also: The 2% Riot
You Think the Translating Ends Once They Give up the Baby Talk?