I am the middle girl of the girls in our family and my younger sister and I are only 10 months apart. Being the older sister, I’ve always felt the need to take care of my younger sister. Even at a very young age, I would make sure she was fed and didn’t go hungry.

(Mom-we look like we needed our hair brushed. I know you had one in that purse.)
When I was in second grade and she was in first, there was a boy she disliked and she didn’t want to go out to recess. She didn’t want to tell my Mom and seeing that I was so experienced with cursive handwriting, I wrote her teacher a note that read – “Jerri has a eyerake (earache) can she please stay in – from Mrs. (our last name)”. (My Mom still carries this in her purse.)
When we were teenagers and she was grounded I would ask my parents if she could go hang out with me and my friends because they trusted me. The plan never failed and I would drop her off at her friend’s house while I went with my friends. Sorry Mom/Dad.
When she became a Mom, I would always help out. I would often keep her daughter Ashley for a night or weekend. Ashley was always a very good baby and as she got a little bigger she was so polite, never said a mean thing, was always concerned about others and never ever repeated bad words.
It was a Friday night and I picked Ashley up to come and spend the night. Ashley was about 5 at the time. We had plans to go get something to eat and get movies. While we were sitting at dinner talking about 5 year old things, Ashley whispers to me, “Um…JoJo, my Mom called you the ”B” word.” That is exactly how she said it. The “B” word.
After all the years I looked after my little sister, I still can’t believe she would call me a bad name. I will never forget those words and I’m still hurt by them.
I am off to counseling…








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Kids always let you know what is REALLY going on at home
That picture is so adorable.
By the way, did you ever find out if the “B” word was really the “B” word you thought it was? I guess this is just another lesson about being careful what you say when kids are in the room. They pick up a lot more than you think they do.
Kids are the truth talkers. They never let anything get past although they do have a tendency to make things up. I’m with Kristine here….did you ever confirm that she ever called you that????
I’m sure the younger sis will be on here to defend herself.
MY MY the things we learn when our children become adults. Jo and Jer still fight with each other and call each other names, but don’t you do it they will be right there to protect the other one. Road trips can be fun with them and then they can be a NIGHTMARE. The older sister (Jane) fits in all this too. She has mothered and crabbed but always there to bail someone out of a mess. I love my road trips with my family oxoxoxoxoxo
To confirm the “B” word for everyone..Yes, it was the actual “B” word…You have to understand being the youngest of 5 children everyone wanted to be the mother (and still does). Jody and I used to work together, everyday was adventure…no matter who did what I always was in trouble for it..so there were plenty of days the “B” word was used but Ashley only heard it once…I am still in counseling and only work with men I am not related to.
That is a hilarious picture and an even better story!
And we are having similar problems with our older son… he wants to run his little brother’s life, tell him what to do, what to play with, etc.
As for the kids repeating what they hear, we have had to deal with that as well. For the most part, my wife and I keep the language very pure around here, but we all make mistakes sometimes. Unfortunately the boys pick up on anything that has some strong inflection on it, and then they want to repeat it.
A while back, our oldest boy heard my wife say “Jesus Christ” about something, and then he just started saying it over and over. My wife said, “Bo, momma made a mistake when she said that, now you please stop saying that. Your grandparents would be very disappointed to hear you say that!”
Bo looked right at her and says, “Well damn!”
We are now all working on our language. Counseling comes next…
Jeff, lol!
Hahahaha!
I used to think “holy cow” was a curse word. That is the worse thing I ever heard my Dad say. Then I grew up!
Now, I curse when I want to irritate my husband. It bothers him…
Jeff that is very funny.
Speaking of phrases you thought were curse words when you were a kid…
My mom used to say “Sugar jets” when she wanted to swear. I don’t know where she got it from, but it was her all purpose cuss word. Until I was about 9 or 10 I thought “sugar jets” was a swear word.
Now, unfortunately, I tend to swear more than I should. I have friends (mostly male for some reason) who like to encourage me to swear. They think it’s funny when I do because I don’t seem like the sort of person who would.
Kristine, shame on you and I’ve never heard of sugar jets.
Ah, so sweet…Great picture! Sisters ; )
I grew up in an atmosphere in which profanity was almost an art form but have done a much better job of shielding my own kids from it. But they have been known to drop a “dammit!” here and there.
This is a little different, but I’ll tell the story any way: I was coaching my five-year-old son’s t-ball game recently, when my seven-year-old came to me complaining that he was thirsty. I pulled $2 out of my pocket and told him to go to the concession stand. As he passed my wife, who was sitting in the bleachers, she asked where he was going.
“To the confession stand,” he replied.
Matt, that is too cute…Here is a good one for you, when my son was younger we used to go to my nephews basketball games every weekend..everytime the other team would be shooting the ball we would all yell “Rebound”…so one day my son was at my moms and they were watching the news and the sports were on and the sportscaster said something about rebound and my son says “Rebound, I know him he is on Johnnys team…