Henceforth, anyone using the following phrases shall be immediately punched in the throat:
“You can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
This is almost never used correctly, and when it is, it’s overused.
“It is … and it isn’t.”
Be decisive. “And” has no place in that sentence.
“Bonding [time]“
The concept is good, but the word “bonding” is way too corny for what can happen when people spend time in real community. Applies to any use of the word other than in reference to materials being joined together with glue or other adhesive substance.
“That’s what she said.”
Who am I kidding? This never gets old.
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June 25, 2009 at 10:48 am
paulpeterson
Beth!
Sherri and I were bonding this morning over some coffee. It had been a rough morning. I had bathed the kids and got pretty upset with one of them. At the end of bathtime, I was ready to implement some pretty harsh discipline when Sherri said, “Babe, you can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Yup… that’s what she said.
Anyhow, the morning unfolded and seemed to get better until I received an e-mail from a friend. It was a very kind e-mail. As I read it I was deeply moved. Sherri saw me sighing and said, “Is that an e-mail from your friend? Is it discouraging? I said, “Well, it is… and it isn’t.”
And then I read this post. It occurred to me that in one morning I had broken every rule you imposed in this post. I told Sherri about it. She said, “Did Beth really say all of that?” And I said, “Yes. that’s what…”
(for those of you troubled by the “harsh punishment” I was going to impose on my child… this is a fictional tale. AND for being so silly as to think it was anything more than fictional narrative you are subjected to line #1 of Beth Nelson’s latest blog post.)