If Looks Could Kill
Cakes has a new trick and it ain’t pretty. The other day, at our local drop-in, it was approaching snack-time. As usual, Cakes started pushing the staff to get a move on it (she regularly starts moving tables and chairs and tugging pant legs a half an hour before the scheduled snack time). On this occasion, one of the staff handed her a cloth and asked her to wipe the tables. Cakes responded by narrowing her eyes and giving her the evilest of eyes. Everyone’s jaw dropped. I shit you not—this look was pure disdain, absolute scorn. One of the other moms commented, “I’ve never seen a young child give someone a look like that before”. I gave her a look. Thanks. Just what I needed to hear.
Of course, since we all reacted so strongly, I’ve seen the look again a couple of times this weekend. I was on the receiving end when I tried to give Cakes kisses all over right after she woke up from her nap. I got it when I ate a piece of her pasta with cheese melted on it (sorry Cakes, but I love pasta with cheese melted on it).
It’s kind of frightening. Where did this come from? Is she really feeling the emotion the look denotes or did she just stumble on it by accident and figure out its attention-getting ability?
If she’s capable of this kind of look now, what the fuck am I in for when she’s sixteen?
Labels: Cakes
posted by metro mama @ 10:31 PM
21 Comments:
Oh my goodness.
I know, if you react, it's over.
Where do they learn these things???
I know its wrong, but it sounds so cute.
Highway to hell Metro. Highway to hell. See ya there!
Ack... we're both in trouble (heck, most of us are) and all we can do is support each other through the teen years.
Poor Mama!
SwingDaddy wrote about the time Q smacked my leg with his toy, and came over to pat it and say sorry, very sweetly. But we haven't gotten around to writing the follow-up, which is when he hit one of us, turned around to glare, and said, "So-weee" with such an insolent tone. I could swear he was 13!
You know, with her talent for giving the evil eye... I think that if our two kids would date, SHE would be the one protecting the two of them if they ever walked down a dark alley. heehee.
I think Cakes can safely rule out a career in the service industry...
That reminds me of "the Murray look" in the Emily of New Moon series - the theory there is that it's a genetic inheritance, a kind of visitation. Did the expression look familiar at all? Like something you've seen on your grandmother's face, or maybe in the mirror?
bubandpie: that's what I was afraid of...I too am capable of such a look but I know Cakes has never seen it. Genetic huh.
Wow. You're right, I've never seen a really young kid give the stinkeye. She'll be progressing to the "whatev's" in no time!
Dude. Wonderbaby is master of the stink eye - usually, however, directed at bigger kids who are getting in her way.
(Yesterday, she stink-eyed a seven-year old at IKEA - and then pinched her in the arm - in order to appropriate a chair. My BABY sent a seven-year old crying to her mother. I didn't know whether to be totally appalled or sort of proud.)
I was shocked the first time I saw the perfect icy gaze from Buttercup. What kills me is how she uses this method to communicate her disdain. Her older sister has never offered up such a frosty look.
With such lovely nicknames Cakes, WonderBaby and Buttercup will be the Heathers of 2021. (When they are 16!) We better not send them to the same high school.
Bub and Pie is correct -stink eye is genetic.
You have it or you don't. It is a key tool in the teaching profession.
My child has stopped giving it so often which is nice. you know once you have prepared the pasta and cheese the last thing you want is attitude from your toddler about having a bite.
Both of my daughter's have mastered my icy, affronted death glare AND their father's raised eyebrow of disdain AT THE SAME TIME. Adolescence is going to be great!
Well, if stink eye is genetic, my boy will be getting it from me.
What always gets me are the funny faces he makes at us, including pressing his face against a glass door or window and making googy noises at us. We haven't shown him these things! It must be genetic.
LOL!!! That's hilarious! The monkey furls her eyebrows and purses her lips when she's angry. It's so funny. I think they get these looks from us....(!) ;)
Heh heh, we went through that phase for a few weeks. The face made everyone laugh so she did it more often. Good news! It eventually went away. I miss that face but I'm sure I'll see it again in a few years. Enjoy it, the stink-eye is fun.
Hmm, Mama, are you sure she hasn't seen that look from you?
When the other mom commented on Cakes' glance, you say: "I gave her a look."
Did it perchance happen to be the stink-eye?
Oops, forgot to add: ;-)
Nancy
Oh my mom tells stories about my dirty looks as a kid getting more fierce as a teenager. Watch out! And she's cute too ... dangerous combo :)
Don't worry. Nate has been giving the hairy eyeball since birth. You're not alone.
Post a Comment
<< Home