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The Kitchen Table

This mother has her work cut out for her! (video)

10 years ago

My own son was exactly like this little boy, always challenging anything that wasn't being handled the way he thought it should be handled. But with every ounce of our energy, DH and I gradually were able to teach him that while he could always question something he didn't understand, he did not have the right to debate things infinitely whenever he wanted.

He grew up to be an amazing young man who is extremely considerate, diplomatic and tactful, so I guess our efforts paid off. But he did get a kick out of this video, as he remembers being the same way when he was little, lol!
http://kfor.com/2014/03/11/toddler-argues-with-mother-over-cupcakes-listen-listen-listen-linda/

Comments (27)

pudgeder
10 years ago
that kid is going to be a politician!
LOL
ruthieg__tx
10 years ago
I'll make a link...

Here is a link that might be useful: lurl from above
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sheilajoyce_gw
10 years ago
He is cute, but he is using phrasing he must have heard someone else use too.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
10 years ago
That's sooooo funny, to me! I'm sure that he's copying his daddy to a "T ". What a little pistol he is.
Elmer J Fudd
10 years ago
The kid is clearly repeating a tone and manner he's heard, maybe in the household? I find him obnoxious, not cute.

The mom said "I'm done arguing with you". That's a bad sign - a parent shouldn't argue with a 3 year old, or a 10 year old, or an 18 year old for that matter. He's not too young to be gently taught of and held to an expectation of polite and respectful speech.
redcurls
10 years ago
I find him obnoxious, too! Glad mine were never like that...not my own kids, nor my grandkids.
jemdandy
10 years ago
He was certainly holding his ground, but he was obnoxious. When the Mom tried to tell him why the cup cakes were withheld, he tried to drown out what she was saying by closing his eyes and saying Listen, Listen. It was a virtual ear plug. He was, in effect, not listening to anything he did not want to hear. That was a very grown-up response and technique used by those who are overbearing, and in my book, being a snot. That Mom was very patient. maybe because she was video-graphing the event. She going to keep that little recording and at sometime in the future, it will get replayed.

He cute, yeah but has a ways to go. Hang in there, Mom. You've got a natural debater.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
10 years ago
I'd take ten of him over one whining, squawling brat. I can tolerate about ten seconds of that without feeling my teeth clench, lol.
rob333 (zone 7b)
10 years ago
copying his mom. Who is saying "listen to me" to him on the video. I agree, she was being patient. Kids that age cannot be reasoned with, is the problem. Takes until about 5, but you gotta start before then to make it happen! Cutie. I'd have just laughed at him and said, no as I walked off, not given him an audience.

:)
party_music50
10 years ago
Not cute. The video looks rehearsed to me. He's just doing exactly what 'Linda, Linda, Linda, Listen to Me' taught him to do.

The good news is he's learned it perfectly and she will have to suffer with this learned behavior for as long as she has him in her house. hahahahaha!
sleeperblues
10 years ago
I see him treating his Mom exactly as his male role model does, whomever that is. The clues to me are the use of her first name and when he called her "honey". She will be living with not one, but two, bullies.
Holly_ON
10 years ago
Glad he isn't mine. That obnoxious kid needs some serious behavioral reprogramming.
Sally Brownlee
10 years ago
I too thought he was to obnoxious and is obviously mirroring an adult.

Although... I think Mom somewhat has the upper hand in the house.

If the adult male in the house speaks to her in the same fashion, he is begging to get his point heard, but clearly knows he will only get his way if he wears her down. (which must work or he wouldnt keep going)
blfenton
10 years ago
My sister has a kid like that. She thinks he's cute, the rest of us find him obnoxious and disrespectful.

I have a very strong-willed child (now 24) who had difficultly taking no for an answer and would play me against his father. Both of us were on the same page and never had trouble saying no to him. He even started to use our first names. I just explained to him that anyone and their dog can use our first names, even strangers but only two people in the entire world got to use the names Mom and Dad and that was him and his brother. And that was special.

They are going to have their hands full and it will be a challenge.
rob333 (zone 7b)
10 years ago
"entire world got to use the names Mom and Dad and that was him and his brother. And that was special."

Had that same talk. Except it was you are the ONLY one in the world who can call me mom/mommy. Works well!
joaniepoanie
10 years ago
That exchange went on entirely too long..... Mom was egging him on for the camera.
Rosebud_MS
10 years ago
Watching that made my blood pressure go up! Obnoxious describes him well.
mary_c_gw
10 years ago
Several of my nieces and nephews talk back and bargain like that, and it annoys me to the point I just leave. Not my children, so nothing I can do.

BUT - I would not, and never did, allow my son to get away with that sort of behavior. Cute?? Hell^NO.
User
10 years ago
If that was my child I certainly wouldn't be boasting about it with a video for all the world to see.

Obnoxious covers it well.
arcy_gw
10 years ago
I found the comment "you can't reason with a child that age" very interesting. Parenting books all tell you to reason with children. Unfortunately these pop psychologists forgot their child development and the FACTS that brain development does not enable reasoning until well into school age!! What Linda is going to learn the hard way, if she doesn't get to the parenting/authority ability to say "enough, go to your room" and have the child comply, when he is 13 this will not be cute. How a relationship plays out when they are young tells much about how it will work when they are older. Look out world another out of control teen is on the way!!
blfenton
10 years ago
~Arcy - I agree with you (and the books) to a certain extent. Children may not have the ability to have their own reasoning skills until they are older but they are, from a very young age, able to hear the word "No" with a short explanation behind it and start to understand..

Whether it be -
"No, don't touch, hot"
"no, hitting hurts"
"no, no toy today, the money has been spent on food for dinner"
" no muffin right now because....."

From that they will start to form their own reasoning skills.
blfenton
10 years ago
~Arcy - I agree with you (and the books) to a certain extent. Children may not have the ability to have their own reasoning skills until they are older but they are, from a very young age, able to hear the word "No" with a short explanation behind it and start to understand..

Whether it be -
"No, don't touch, hot"
"no, hitting hurts"
"no, no toy today, the money has been spent on food for dinner"
" no muffin right now because....."
"No running, that is for the playground not for the grocery store"

From that they will start to form their own reasoning skills.
suzieque
10 years ago
Although the video is entertaining, in my opinion that kid should've been marched to a place to sit and be punished for his disrespect. Cute at that age tends to be out of control and horrible later. It shouldn't be tolerated.
matti5
10 years ago
I think mom was egging him on for the camera. I have a feeling if it were not on, she would have ended the situation quickly. Disipline does not seem to be a problem based on certain things she said during their conversation.

Ellen has invited Linda and Mateo to appear on her show.
joyfulguy
10 years ago
"The boy ...

... is the father ...

... of the man."

............. my Dad

Sometimes ... the boy ... may echo ... the man (as in "quote"). (not quoting my Dad: maybe it's mostly faulty memory)

ole joyful
rob333 (zone 7b)
10 years ago
Brain development is what i meant arcy when i said they can't reason". You were spot on.
joaniepoanie
10 years ago
Yes, they will be on Ellen tomorrow.

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