Lying and Hating

Hate is a very strong word.

PhilBillPaul and I made it a rule in our house when the kids were very little that they are not allowed to use the word hate when referring to people. It’s just a personal little issue I have about choosing our words carefully. I was traumatized in my teens when someone I love screamed “I hate you.”

Not to me thank you very much.

But all I could think about was what if that’s the last thing you screamed at someone you love in a fit of anger?

Don’t get me wrong because that might sound all noble and deep but those who know me are very aware that I have angry outbursts.

Coma…head injury…human…not enough therapy…take your pick of why I lack the self-control to be a shining example to my children on a daily basis.

I have been known to say “I dislike you intensely right now.”

Which is not really the best substitute but sometimes it’s all I’ve got. Just keeping it real.

We do, however, allow the occasional “I hate ______” referring to inanimate objects. You know, as in:

I hate vegetables.

I hate roaches.

I hate pollen season in Atlanta.

I hate bookkeeping, accounting and filing taxes.

Thanks, I feel much better now.

Can you tell what I’ve been doing for two days? Yes, I’m a little grouchy.

Okay, maybe a lot grouchy.

I almost forgot to tell you all that a new blog friend, Lynn asked me to write a guest post over at an amusing, relatively new blog called My Teen, The Alien.

It’s about parents and teenagers lying and who does it more.

Let me know what you think.

Anything you hate that you’re willing to share? Come on, tell me…