This morning Will woke up cranky. He came out of his bedroom to see me already sitting on the couch.
“Mom! I’m supposed to get up first!”
“I’m sorry,” I replied. “Doodee (our cat) woke me up. He kept meowing and meowing at me. I finally said, ‘Shut up, Doodee!'”
“Mom, shut up is a bad word!”
Will was correct. I have taught him many times that saying ‘shut up’ is rude. I prefer us to say ‘be quiet’ in this house.
“But,” Will continued in all seriousness, “you could have called Doodee a Butthead.”
I smiled inwardly. I think it’s interesting that he knows I feel ‘shut up’ is rude. However, clearly I’ve missed the manners boat on ‘butthead’!
