Word of the day: hate

Here's how my conversation with Colter went this morning.

Colter: I hate afterschool.

Me: You haven't even been to afterschool this year, maybe you'll like it. Come on, I have to comb your hair.

Colter: I hate combing my hair.

Me: I'm sorry, but it's too messy. Let's go.

Colter: Did you put my homework in the front pocket of my backpack? I hate the big pocket.

Me: Yes, I put it in the front pocket.

Later...

Me: So I know what you hate. What do you love?

Colter: You, Daddy, me and Aleshia.

Thank God for that.

Comments

[VJ]

Here's something I wrote in Tony's journal in July of '03 about his experience with the word "hate:"
While your friends were here, you and J.. got into a bit of a scuffle that sent you to your room, and her to a chair.
After they left, you and I came back into the house where you promptly turned and told me, “I HATE you Mommy!” I was stunned and hurt. My first reaction was to give you a swat and a scolding but I took a couple of minutes and asked you why you hated me. You told me it was because I sent to you to your room.
“Tony, what does “hate” mean?” I asked you. I wanted to know your definition of it.
“It means you are a very bad girl!” you told me emphatically.
I explained to you that to hate someone means to not love him or her.
“But I love you Mommy!” you wailed, wrapping your arms around me.
I explained how I felt when you uttered those words, “I hate you” at me. I took your hand, made a fist out of it, and drove it into my stomach explaining that those words hurt me as much as if you had hit me. You were aghast.
“I didn’t do that!” You protested, pulling your hand away.
“No, not with your hand,” I said reaching for it, “but your tongue said words that hurt just as bad.
“Remember Tony, to say you hate someone means you don’t love them.”
“Mommy, I love you. I’m sorry I said that.” You told me with another hug. I patted your head and told you I loved you, too. You then ran off to somewhere.

[Robin P]

Did you mean to say you were combing Lillianna's hair because this conversation is all too familiar! The crazy "I hate..." statements. They always end in tears with "I love you mommy." Kids...go figure! At least the family is on the top of the "love" list.

[Heather]

Awwww.........

[Sheilah]

Oh man...my four year old daughter is in that "I hate" phase as well....drives me nuts...completely nuts. I don't like her using that word, and she knows it....but, this is one phase that has lasted the longest of any of them. Anyway...I feel your pain :)