One of the "golden rules" at my kids' (progressive charter) school is:
"Don't yuck other people's yums."
Gen X-ers might know this as "don't shit on my house," made popular by one of my fave 80s rom-coms, Can't Buy Me Love
"Don't yuck other people's yums."
Gen X-ers might know this as "don't shit on my house," made popular by one of my fave 80s rom-coms, Can't Buy Me Love
(I love it when I see an old friend or meet someone new who grew up in the 80s and they know the scene immediately and we recite together, "You shit on my house, man... YOU SHIT ON MY HOUSE!"
I still can't believe Amanda Peterson -- aka Cindy Mancini -- died. RIP.)
Anyway, whether you call it "yucking my yum" or "shitting my house" the message is similar: Don't disrespect what's sacred to me.
Even though my kids both know the phrase, they don't always follow the rule. Cuz, who always does? We yuck people's yums all the time without realizing it. Example: My five year old daughter's really into Jo Jo Siwa. If you don't know who that is, you're NAAMO (Not At All Missing Out).
Look at that, I just yucked my kid's yum behind her back.
We were at Barnes and Noble recently and I told each of my kids they could pick out one book. My daughter picked out a book "by"* her favorite author, Jo Jo Siwa.
*Jo Jo Siwa is 14 years old I doubt she actually wrote it.
I still can't believe Amanda Peterson -- aka Cindy Mancini -- died. RIP.)
Anyway, whether you call it "yucking my yum" or "shitting my house" the message is similar: Don't disrespect what's sacred to me.
Even though my kids both know the phrase, they don't always follow the rule. Cuz, who always does? We yuck people's yums all the time without realizing it. Example: My five year old daughter's really into Jo Jo Siwa. If you don't know who that is, you're NAAMO (Not At All Missing Out).
Look at that, I just yucked my kid's yum behind her back.
We were at Barnes and Noble recently and I told each of my kids they could pick out one book. My daughter picked out a book "by"* her favorite author, Jo Jo Siwa.
*Jo Jo Siwa is 14 years old I doubt she actually wrote it.
I didn't want to yuck her yum and I do want to encourage her excitement to read, even if it's a book that made my husband pretend to barf behind her back. (Major yucking of the yum, but also behind the back.)
Coincidentally, Jo Jo's catch phrase, "peace out, haterz" is kind of the same message.
Leave it to my 8-year-old son to yuck his sister's yum to her face. He goes,
Coincidentally, Jo Jo's catch phrase, "peace out, haterz" is kind of the same message.
Leave it to my 8-year-old son to yuck his sister's yum to her face. He goes,
"that book is so cheesy. Jo Jo already has a sweet life cuz she's rich and on TV and gets whatever she wants."
I thought that was pretty perceptive of him. I was even a little proud. But I told him not to yuck her yum.
I was impressed that my daughter still wanted the book, and didn't really care what her big brother thought.
Now we're stuck with this book and my daughter's not into Jo Jo anymore.
I have/had an older sister growing up. And she is/was smart and I idolized her. And when she yucked my yum I felt dumb. So I followed her advice when she said "don't ask for a cabbage patch kid for your birthday, they're so trendy and you're too old for one."
I was impressed that my daughter still wanted the book, and didn't really care what her big brother thought.
Now we're stuck with this book and my daughter's not into Jo Jo anymore.
I have/had an older sister growing up. And she is/was smart and I idolized her. And when she yucked my yum I felt dumb. So I followed her advice when she said "don't ask for a cabbage patch kid for your birthday, they're so trendy and you're too old for one."
Looking back, I know that what she really meant was she was too old for one and her birthday wasn't for another 6 months so I should ask for something she could enjoy, like another Game & Watch. I think we just called it a "Game Watch."
But at the time my yum was really yuckable. I didn't ask for a cabbage patch kid, even though I secretly still yearned for one. That trendy doll would probably be worth a lot of money right now.
What's my point? Don't yuck people's yums.
But also, take responsibility.
Don't let other people yuck your yums.
Because older siblings and misguided friends are gonna sometimes shit on your house.
It's what they do. They're still learning too.
And we love them for helping us learn to stand up for ourselves, even if it takes a few birthdays.
And watch Can't Buy Me Love, cuz it's a really good movie. If you disagree, you'll be shitting on my house, man.
But I still love you.
What's my point? Don't yuck people's yums.
But also, take responsibility.
Don't let other people yuck your yums.
Because older siblings and misguided friends are gonna sometimes shit on your house.
It's what they do. They're still learning too.
And we love them for helping us learn to stand up for ourselves, even if it takes a few birthdays.
And watch Can't Buy Me Love, cuz it's a really good movie. If you disagree, you'll be shitting on my house, man.
But I still love you.
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