Midday, In our Home
I enter the house to find my son, Tilo,
sweeping our carpet with a broom
Me: " Hey son, what'cha doin there?
Tilo: I'm sweeping the floor.
Me:" I can see that. Why aren't you using the vacuum cleaner?"
Tilo: "I don't know. Josh just said to sweep the floor."
Me: "Why on earth would he say that? Is the vacuum cleaner broken?"
Tilo: "I dunno."
I go to the bedroom to find my husband Josh
Me: "Hun?"
Josh: "Yesss?
Me: "Why did you tell Tilo to sweep the floor?"
Josh: "Cuz, its dirty."
Me: "Why can't he just use the vacuum cleaner?"
Josh: "Why isn't he using it?"
Me: "Because you told him to sweep it."
Josh: "Yes, yes I did. I told him to use the sweeper."
Me: "By sweeper you mean use the...."
Josh: "I mean to use the sweeper and sweep the floor!"
Me: "Now I'm confused!"
Josh: "The sweeper is the vacuum cleaner."
Me: "Seriously? Why would you call it that?"
Josh: "I don't know. That's what my family calls it."
Me: "Oh good grief! Tilo, get the vacuum cleaner and vacuum the floor!"
Ha! I get the impression this isn't far from a real scenario in your house. Miscommunication is a great conflict catalyst.
ReplyDeleteThis did actually happen a few years ago and he still calls the vacuum cleaner a sweeper. His family and I all pick on each other for the way we talk. I still believe ruff is something the dog says not what's on top of the house.
ReplyDelete