Growing up, my parents often complained that they “sounded like a broken record.” Honestly, they did. Being a parent often means repeating the same lessons hundreds of times in a desperate attempt to get the point across in stubborn children. But one mom on TikTok has come up with a strategy that could help make the process easier.
Nicole of @raisekindkids on TikTok shares how she uses “parenting quips” at home: short, to-the-point quips that help kids remember important lessons and avoid lengthy lectures.
For example, one of them is “You can be angry, but you can’t be mean.”
“When we say things over and over again, it feels like, God why do I have to keep repeating myself? Nicole explained. “So we’ve got some quips to make things easier. What’s more, they work because our kids know what they mean.
Wishes don’t work in a vacuum. Nicole emphasized the importance of teaching children what meaning is when they are first introduced to them. Then, next, the sentence acts as a callback to the original conversation.
“After I gave the kids the answers, they would ask questions over and over again. How many people’s kids do that?” Nicole said. “We use ‘ask and answer.’ So I explain it to them right away.” , “You’ve asked and I’ve answered. I’m sorry if you don’t like the answer, but that’s the answer. So if they keep asking, then I’ll just say ‘ask and answer.’
She also explains how these quips continue to apply and even evolve as children grow.
“If I see my child making a questionable choice, especially when they’re little and they’re adventurous and climbing on something, I’d say, ‘This is a bad thing for your body. Good choices? Or I would say, “Make good choices for your body. “… Now I’m leaving my kids alone and I’m just saying to them, ‘Make the right choice,'” she said.
Nicole ended the video by sharing a full list of parenting quips, including lines like, “You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but you have to be friendly,” and “Stop means stop, no means no.” and “It’s okay to be uncomfortable.”
She also asked parents to share some lines they use at home in the comments.
“As a mom with young kids, I try to stop so many tantrums in the park by saying, ‘If we want to come back, we have to leave well,'” one user shared.
“As a disability advocate: ‘Everyone’s brain and body work differently,’” wrote another.
Another mum shared: “Instead of telling our kids ‘I’m sorry’ we tell them ‘Do better’… They usually apologize but also say things like ‘Are you okay?’ What can I do for you?
Honestly, I’m writing this down for my own use – sometimes, even adults need to learn a lesson! We love seeing parents who are committed to raising kind children, no matter how many times you may need to remind them.
