Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

Parents Don’t Make Sense

Even parents don’t make sense sometimes.

Here are 7 expressions that some parents say that just plain don’t make sense. Daddy calls them sick log calls. (Ed. illogical)

1. Don’t look at me like that. Or don’t look at me with those eyes.

Hello?! These are the only eyes I have. Should I go out and borrow somebody else’s? Or maybe I should keep an extra pair or two or three in my room just in case?

2. Stop making that face. It’ll freeze.

I can freeze my daddy’s face. Ice ice ice! He’ll stop moving, too. Seriously, will my face really get frozen in one position. Even if I make the same face a lot? And how do I make the same face the same way? I am not sure I can do that.

3. If you act like a child, I’ll treat you like one.

Um… in case you weren’t looking. I am a child.

4. Be quiet! I can’t hear myself think.

Maybe it’s because you are talking too loud. Not me.

5. Children should be seen and not heard.

Tip toe through the tulips, um, living room and dining room and kitchen and bathroom …

6. One of these days, you’ll thank me.

So, I shouldn’t be thankful now?

7. Because I said so. That’s why?

That explanation works sometimes. Because I know you have some experience that I don’t. But sometimes, it might help me understand better if you explained the why.

Does your mommy and daddy sometimes say things that doesn’t make sense?

So far so good with mine.

Oh, and I have never heard my daddy say these things. Does yours?

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.