On parents and nagging

[pktechgirlbackup]

Hypothesis: parents reminding you bring your jacket or pointing out the highway exit are not disproportionately annoying because of the implication you can't remember your own jacket or notice an exit- I myself have forgotten both of those things, and never more often than when my parents are around. The extra annoyance actually stems from the implication that I couldn't cope if I did forget my jacket. This was a reasonable assumption when I was four, but in recent years I have gained the ability to tough it out for the walk from the car to the restaurant without freezing to death. Similarly, when I was on my learner's permit, it was necessary to point out exits a mile in advance, but now I can handle both fast lane changes *and* getting off the highway and turning around. I'm crafty like that.

Comments

[scythe-of-time.livejournal.com]

Huh, good point. I can see how this could also contribute to being annoyed with nagging re: parenting your own kids (once you get past that awful first year, that is). These are all learnable skills, and reminders after we've learned them is aggravating.