I heard the words "I'm never speaking to you again!" today
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238349)
Walnut Creek, California
October 14, 2016 8:13pm CST
Her eyes showed both anger and hurt as she spoke these words to me today. I was surprised, as I thought I had done the right thing.
My response was subdued but honest: "I will miss you if you never speak to me again."
She did not relent. She stared daggers at me, and I had to turn away.
I knew what I had done: I had given her friend one of the two remaining pink pipe cleaners on the table, and offered her a purple one as compensation for giving her only one of the two remaining pink ones.
We were making chains out of pipe cleaners. I think I may have gone so far as to help her friend twist the ends together on one of her rings.
Fortunately, I knew things were OK when she asked me to help her open her lunch box a few minutes later. And she was on my lap fifteen minutes after that during circle time.
Given that she is 4-years-old, I wasn't THAT worried when she told me that we had had our last conversation. I only wish that adult women were as forgetful and forgiving when it comes to disagreements.
Note: The boy on the right is from a few years ago. He'd get mad at me when I banned him from my office for 37 seconds for hitting another kid or knocking down their tower, tell me he hated me, and the wait outside the door until 37 seconds were up. He was a delight.
23 people like this
24 responses
@teamfreak16 (43648)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Oct 16
You mean she's not going to hold on to it for six years and bring it up whenever she's in a bad mood?
5 people like this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
15 Oct 16
See I don`t do that. I cannot stand being nagged so I do not nag!
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (56354)
• Canada
15 Oct 16
I can relate to that.
I have a female relative who spoke some really harsh words to me over 6 years ago, and she won't take them back or apologize and wonders why I keep my distance, but she forgets that I was told to.
There is no forgiveness there.
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
15 Oct 16
an innocent easily forgotten aside from a child - obviously very different when uttered by grown ups
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
16 Oct 16
@TheHorse a child throwing a diva-strop is both funny and scary
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
15 Oct 16
We women start using that threat at an early age!
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
15 Oct 16
@TheHorse Usually never. But don't tell my husband I said that!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Oct 16
@1creekgirl You can be assured I won't tell him.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169530)
• United States
15 Oct 16
Very nice, she could use her words and not have a meltdown type of behavior. Of course words can hurt as well.
2 people like this
@hora_fugit (5859)
• India
15 Oct 16
If she takes one, and you the other, it's not a fair divide. You getting three times of her!
Or does he have only two sexy legs?
2 people like this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
15 Oct 16
@hora_fugit .. You are horrid..go play with your toys kiddo.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
@TheHorse Very nice of you and the patience you have too :)
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Oct 16
Agreed. I think we get defensive/mad when our ego is challenged. Kids' egos are still developing, so they can go from "everyone hates me" to "I am the best Lego carpenter in the world" in five minutes. With adults, their egos are more established, so if it is challenged, they remember that challenge and want to refute it.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Oct 16
and a learning opportunity about hurting words and how it's ok to say, "I am mad and not talking to you for awhile" rather than forever
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Oct 16
@TheHorse that does help normalize that it's ok to be mad for a time, or to be mad but move on and such
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Oct 16
I do reframe their angry statements sometimes. But I try to be a bit subtle about it."Do you want to play together now that you have one truck and he has the other? Or do you want to be mad at each other for a little while?"
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
15 Oct 16
Kids are always so adorable no matter what they do
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
16 Oct 16
i shudder to think where she picked such 'p 't a young age? i'm glad that she fergave ya though :)
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
15 Oct 16
Great story! I am glad that kids are so forgiving, and, like you, wish adult women shared that trait. Come to think about it, my wife Anne is very forgiving and for that I am grateful.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
16 Oct 16
We women wish we could forget a few things too, but they remain stuck in our heads forever. 
1 person likes this
