I debated posting this video because the mother mentions spanking her kids and although, I don't agree with spanking personally, I still don't want people to attack her in the comments. Whatever my opinion, I fail at parenting pretty regularly and am in no position to judge.
I will say this— watch how you talk to your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend/etc. around your children because they will take your tone of voice, digest it and then spit it right back at you once they have the ability to form a cohesive argument.
Witness three-year-old Matteo arguing with his mother over whether he deserves a cupcake. From what I can understand (which isn't a lot), his mom said "no", so he asked Grandma.
Smart kid.
Then Matteo tries to defend himself while calling his mom by her first name, repeatedly asking her to "listen" and at one very pivotal point, dismissing her as "Honey". Channeling Dad, perhaps?
It is both hilarious and an important lesson.
When Linda says, "I'm done arguing with you!", Matteo counters with, "No, I'm done arguing with you!"
Sorry, Linda. I think Matteo won this one…
Thanks to both Kristi and Sarah for sending me a link to this video. If you have a tip, please post it on the Mommy Shorts facebook page.
Whoaaaa. She is very patient. I would have lost my cool and much earlier. He would have been out of that kitchen as soon as he called me “Linda” and promptly in a chair for a time out just for arguing with me after I said NO. Holy cow, that mom is in for quite a tough childhood raising that boy! My son was just like that but it took him until he was about six for all that argumentative stuff to really kick in. It was the most challenging thing I ever did, raising him, and this child has mine beat by miles!
Oh, this poor woman is going to get trolled within an inch of her life over the spanking. And this kid should run for office.
I certainly hope she’s his step mother because that would be the ONLY way one of my kids would ever be allowed to call me by my first name. Incidentally, my mother’s name is Linda and I’m 38 and still wouldn’t call her that. She’d give me a “pow pow” on my butt.
I noticed last night that comments were disabled on YouTube so maybe that’s why. But if the comments were that bad, you’d think she would take it down. Interestingly, I haven’t seen any of the sites that are posting the video mention the spanking thing. It doesn’t really come up in the comments either.
It’s amazing how kids argue with their parents these days. The Moms would have pa-powed my butt if I called her by her first name. The arguing seems like it is coming from dad or grandpa. He’s just emulating either one. It’s cute, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. Next it will be staying up late, eating candy or some other nonsense just because he can get away with arguing.
Do not argue with children! That is rule number 1. The conversation should have gone something like this…
Mom- No cupcake
Boy- but Lin…..
Mom- STOP. Mommy said NO. You do not argue with mommy.
Boy- but Lind…
Mom- Did I just tell you no arguing?
Boy- Yes
Mom- then you listen to mommy or mommy will spank your butt (or punish ment of choice)
Boy- but mo…
Mom- do you want me to spank you?
Boy- no
Mom- ok. Then go play with your blocks like a good boy.
Holy mother of God. This kid needs to apply to law school now. Definitely channeling Dad.
Yes, funny and scary. And I would also.get a pow pow if I called my mother by her first name.
Amen! They might think this us cute now, but no matter how cute it is to hear a 3 year old talk like an adult, this is not cute behavior. Arguing with children makes everything worse. EVERYTHING. Thank you for such sound advice Amerique. 🙂
He is so cute… She is one patient momma, that’s for sure.
I have to say one more thing. Let’s not judge her parenting or tell her how to raise her kids.
Instead let’s think about our own mistakes and try to learn from this.
My daughter already argues like me and that’s something I work hard to fix, but probably not
Hard enough. No, I don’t allow her to disrespect me, but she keeps trying anyway.
Daily battle.
Wow, I thought my 3-year-old son knew how to argue but this kid beats him by a mile! I have no problem with the “pow pow” because my son gets those on his bottom sometimes if necessary (although just the threat usually works). I would not have let it go on this long for sure. My son TRIES to argue with me, and sometimes gets a few good lines in (he also likes using my words against me), but I cut it short or just walk away because I’m not about to lose an argument with preschooler and I certainly don’t like him thinking he can debate my rules with me. lol This kid was cute but I would not have had the patience that his mother had.
This video is cute, certainly, but I would never allow my kids to argue with me like that. They may not like it, but they have to listen… otherwise they are going to grow up thinking that negotiating the rules is acceptable. I know I sound like I’m hard, but this video really was disturbing to me…
Some of the comments on here…wow! People need to lighten up. This is humorous.
I initially was not going to comment but changed my mind. I don’t feel this kid has great arguing skills, he has great dysfunctional communication skills. If a lawyer spoke like that to a jury or a judge he would not get the time of day. This child is modeling the communication he sees around him- passive/aggressive and misogynistic. Unfortunately the mother does not seem to see this and thinks it’s “Cute” behavior. I seriously worry about the mental health of this family unit, it needs guidance, and doling out “pows on the butt” is not going to solve that.
As an old school Mom who rasied her children with spanking I have to comment my children were given set swats for set “crimes” there was no beatings they sat on their bed for roughly 10 minutes to think about what they had done then got one or two swats depending on the severity of the offense. I didn’t have to spank them that much when they learned that there was consequences to there actions they behaved, no meltdowns on planes, restaurants, church etc. They were a true joy to raise and they turned out to be very strong successful women. Unfortunately they have tried to raise their children in the new norm and my grandchildren are totally out of control. Not all old school parenting is bad.
I love that he’s trying to argue his case. Nice little window into three yr old thinking. “But I had to get up there, because if you pull on the thing, it will break.” Or something like that. Funny! And the husbandly head shake at the end is priceless and a little scary. Maybe we’ll let our son try to argue his case a little more and see what he comes up with. I’m not talking about cupcakes before dinner or anything crazy like that, but want five more minutes before pajamas, give me a good reason, discussed in regular tones of voice, and I’ll listen (don’t call me Linda).
AMEN…I catch myself argueing with my 3 year old and I’ll stop myself and say this is not happening you will do what I say NOW or I get the spoon. Otherwise it just ends in neither of us getting what we wanted and alot of yelling and disrespect on both sides. Need to just end it before it even starts.
My DD (4 years old) has also mastered the “win argument by filibuster cuteness” strategy. I think they must have watched Mr. Green Goes to Washington while I was in the blur…
Totaly agree! Me and my brother were raised with a stiff hand and we never acted out at all even as teenagers we were respectful. I am trying to raise my son the same way My main goal is teach him respect…Respect yourself, respect others, respect your stuff. If you do that then everything else falls into place. But still I have problems with him throwing fits in the store or church so I don’t know if its parenting or kids are just different now.
Rule #1: We do not negotiate with terrorists.
Interesting comments. I will point out that an article I read about this video yesterday explained that he calls his mom by her name because his parents taught him their names after they helped a little boy who was lost and didn’t know what his parents actual names were. Personally, I don’t think its disrespectful that he’s using her name. I think its smart that he knows it.
I can laugh at this fabulous video because it’s not my kid! He is a hoot! My children just graduated college… yea, I survived! I think this might be a 40 year old little person instead of a 3 year old boy. LOVED THIS!
As the first time mom of an 11-month-old, these toddler videos make me very very nervous.
Are you sure you want Harlow to start talking?
Thanks for sharing this. A good idea on the part of his mother and I admit I also do not take issue with a parent letting their child call them by name. I don’t see how that is offensive.
Oh my this was so funny! I actually watched this on another site, and it did say that the mother had taught her son her first name for emergency cases, besides many children go through a phase of calling their parents by their first name. It is common because that is what they hear other people address them as. I honestly think this mother is wonderful, her son was not throwing a fit or crying he was trying to explain to her what he wanted. The mom listened to him and stood firm. You can tell from the dialogue he and his brother had gotten in trouble for doing something and that is why he was not allowed to have a cupcake. The mother told him many times that that was why, she also explained to him if she tells him him no he is not allowed to ask another adult. Although he did have a little attitude, we have to remember he is three years old. I think it is important to teach our children that they do have a voice and for us as parents to hear and acknowledge that voice. If we always shut down our children with only a “No”, or “Because I said so” we are missing an opportunity to teach them a lesson. We should never let our children dictate or make the rules in the home, but what we do need to do is let our children know that what they are feeling and their opinions about things do matter to us. When we stop allowing our children to voice their opinions in an appropriate way (talking it out)we are teaching them to keep how they feel and what they think inside. I think that is a recipe for disaster, so I would say props to this mamma!
HAHAHA this little boy clearly sees his parents argue too much. He is way too good at impersonating his dad.
I love it. I think he’s just acting like his mom. I call my kids honey all the time. I think the only reason she let it go on so long is because she was recording it. I would have recorded that too, to show my kids in the future. It was entertaining 🙂
Ali, LOLOLOLOLOL!!!
I think he is the cutest! I quite like it when he calls her “Honey”. Of course it’s not my kid or my video so I can say all this.
Read on another site that mother stated she an father gave matteo and his brother permission to call them by their first names because in case the got lost the police would know what their parents names were instead of just mommy and daddy. They usually call them mommy and daddy but when its something to them they call their parents by their first names
Its kids who grew up without getting their butts spanked that went berserk in the London Riots of 2011. Spare the Rod and put up with Riots.
My husband and I only have one child, and she called us ONLY by our first names until she was well over three, I guess because that’s what we called each other at home in front of her (go tell Steve it’s time for dinner, please, or go ask Amber such and such…). We never thought a thing about it, but family and even strangers in stores or restaurants would comment on it and seemed quite bothered about it! So we started referring to each other as Mom and Dad when talking to her, and she switched to that… Now that she’s in her twenties she still generally calls me Mom, but will often refer to me as Amber when talking about me to others.