Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Spin Cycle: I Love You, Ba-Bye

When my teens are going out I always say, “Be safe, have fun, I love you.”

If I am on the phone with my husband or kids, before we hang up, the last thing we say is, “love you, ba-bye.”

Or if the other person said it first, then it’s, “love you too.”

At bookclub one night, my son (15 at the time) called me. Before I hung up I said, “love you too.”

A friend sitting next to me whose son is a couple years older than mine looked at me and said, “Did your son just say he loves you on the phone? Mine hasn’t told me that since before he was a teenager.”

I could not imagine that. Those regular I love you’s get me through the crap side of living with teenagers. And OCD husbands while we’re at it.

One day I was driving with my son in the car and he was talking to a friend (a guy) on the phone. As he hung up he said, “love you, ba-bye.”

He did not think it was as funny as I thought it was. That kind of made it even funnier. Red faced and angry he spurted at me, “I’m not saying I love you on the phone anymore. This is what happens.”

I replied, “Well, are you going to call Charlie back now and break up with him?”

He finally got over himself and had a laugh.

For more spins on saying “I love you,” head on over to Sprite’s Keeper. There’s probably some great stories on first love and all that, but I’m so old and addled I could not remember mine.

39 comments:

Sniffles and Smiles said...

We do the same thing at my house!!! I LOVE IT!!!! Keep lovin' ~Janine XO

♥ Braja said...

Love ya, C :)

Everyday Goddess said...

We can never say it enough, can we. Thanks!

darsden said...

I can count 2 times I have heard that from my mom in my entire 48 years..*s* but I know she does..just doesn't express it!
Happy for all the others that are able too though must be wonderful to hear :-))

Jan said...

I like this story, Pseudo! Probably because I can relate to it so well.

My oldest son is a Stoic One, and rarely tells me he loves me first, but always responds in like when I tell him. We're really close and talk nearly every day, even though we live 1,200 miles apart and I don't need to hear it - I know it.

Darling Daughter always tells me "I love you Mommy!" when we hang up after talking on the phone or instant message.

The Young One takes after his biological father and is a very openly affectionate, touchy feely person. I'm never lacking for spontaneous hugs, words and displays of affection from that kid. He's just about the sweetest person I've ever known.

I'm lucky.

Camille said...

I've done that before---it's embarrassing, but I suppose there are worse blunders, right? Thanks for the good spin!

Linda said...

My family does this too! Every single phone conversation ends with "I love you" "I love you too!" It's awesome!
Don't wait to hear it. Say it first!

Sprite's Keeper said...

You've taught him well!
I'm still working with Sprite on her response to when I say "I love you". I want her to respond back. Instead, she has this ritual where she kisses me in response and maybe I'll get the "love you, Mommy". Her self-initiated "love you"s are few and far between. You're linked!

Kristan said...

HAHA! That's great. I'm glad he got over it and laughed. Also wonderful that y'all verbalize your love, even if it's casual. My first boyfriend hadn't told his mom he loved her since he was like 8 or 9, and that just broke my heart. I got him to say it to her for Mother's Day when we were dating, but it took a lot of badgering...

Michel said...

Dude, I can't even count the number of times I have done that at work because it is such a habit!! I usually have to call them back and go, umm....that was an accident. I'm not a creepy stalker!

well, kinda.

darsden said...

Michel-you surfaced...hummmm Braja kicked your ass didn't she LOL

Anonymous said...

Love it!!!

My sister has done this to me twice. We're on the phone and at the end of the conversation, she says "love you, bye" - then she catches herself and says "oh - wait - i didn't mean that - i thought i was talking to my husband - habit you know - but i dont mean that i dont love you - cuz i do - but i mean i didn't mean to say it - but - well - you know - i didn't mean it - but i do- whatever...bye!

LOL

mo.stoneskin said...

I have a couple of *male) mates that I say "I love you" to. But only a couple...

On the other hand, me and my mum never really do that. Odd.

Cristin said...

That is the best thing ever...your teenager telling his buddy that he loves him!

It was not said much in our house growing up... ok, not at all... and I think I might overdo it with my kids...if that is possible, which I don't think it is...

Mama Badger said...

I've done that a few times. But hearing a teenage boy do it is just waaay to funny. Poor kid. Bet Charlie got a good laugh, too, though.

David said...

I do it on purpose at times. I Love You is a wonderful way to say Namaste.

The Rambler said...

You can never say I love you enough.

Me and my BFF even say it when we get off the phone :)

Now if I can just get my 2 year old to say it I'll be content.

MsTypo said...

I say it to my husband all the time adn he responds, "uh huh." :) He says its cute. LOL

msprimadonna67 said...

We say lots of I love yous at my house. Even though I never doubted for a second that my mom loved me, I don't ever remember her (or my dad) expressing it. When I had kids, I knew I wanted them to feel it and hear it all the time. I just love it when my son yells out in front of his whole sixth grade class "Love you, Mom!"

Jack said...

There is nothing more satisfied then hearing "love ya" or "you too" for the your kids. We are exactly the same way in our family :)

Petra a.k.a The Wise (*Young*) Mommy said...

That's hilarious. Thinking about him saying that to his friend just totally cracked me up!

cheatymoon said...

Like my sister, we may overdo it here. Last week my teen left me a voice mail ended with "bye, love you" and my first thought was: "he must want something" - :-) He's been holding back of late.

Good luck w/ the ocd husband, etc.

xxoo
Love ya!

Hit 40 said...

My oldest started saying "I love you" again. We had a dry spell for a while.

My mom once commented why do you tell your children I love you so much? This is when I began to realize the woman is whack!!!

creative kerfuffle said...

we are also a verbal bunch of i love yous. neither the hubs or i grew up w/ saying i love you being common so we make sure our kids know it, hear it, feel it and hopefully reciprocate. they haven't hit the teen years yet but they do still say it. they still kiss us good night and say i love you. and, since he was a toddler the boys last words are---will you come check on me in a little bit? he's 9 and still says it.
i love this post : )

Fragrant Liar said...

That's a cute story, especially since the kid in question was a boy. My family has always been very affectionate and we don't hesitate to say we love each other on the phone or in person. I can't imagine it any other way.

IB said...

The lad and I communicate through texting. I always finish up a text "conversation" with this: "Make smart decisions". Be safe. Love u.

I usually get back just a smiley emoticon, but I figure it counts.

Unknown said...

Oh yes, can't be said enough whether male or female in my book and I'm so glad my kids don't have problems saying it to me, each other or anyone else they care about.

K Dubs said...

it wasn't said in my house growing up, so I say it all the time - and if the boy hangs up without saying it - he knows to call back. LOL

LOVE him saying it to his buddy though!

Joanna Jenkins said...

We say it all the time in my family. My 12 year old godson recently stopped though. He was embarrassed in front of the school kids to say it. So he came up with a hand squeeze thing to take it's place in public. It sweet... and he makes up for not saying I love you in private :-) Fun post. Thank you!

Casey said...

That's hilarious. I'm glad there's hope for kids to still show affection once they hit puberty...

anymommy said...

I LOVE that your kids say love you on the phone. I hope for that, I try to say it a lot. I suppose the slip with his friend is the downside. Awesome.

Chris said...

Always glad to find another educator-blog. Found my way here through Beth's place.

I've had the embarrassing "reflex I love you" myself, only it was with the Ass't Superintendent. My girlfriend had been calling a lot that day, and in the midst of it, the boss called. At the end of the conversation, "Love you, bye" just slipped out. Fortunately, she realized the situation and has a sense of humor.

"You too, Sweetheart."

Yeah, oops.

Glad I found your place! Take care.

Chris
cdmauger.blogspot.com

bernthis said...

you are such an awesome mom. You really made me smile with this one

Tricia said...

I love the story of your son in the car. Just perfect.

Mrsbear said...

Aw, we're the same over here. Even my daughters, who despise each other during daylight hours, always end it with a "good-night, love you". Now if I could just get my two year old to say it to me...he loves kid's meals but can't squeeze out an "I love mom". :( I think he's toying with me.

Anonymous said...

LMAO! This is awesome! I can't stop laughing!

RatalieNose said...

This made me happy!
There's nothing more precious than a mamma's boy!

Queen Bee said...

Oh that's a good one. I wonder what Charlie's reaction was?

Smart Mouth Broad said...

I loved this story. We are a big I love you family too. We never miss an opportunity to say it on the phone, going to bed, leaving the house, etc. Both my kids say it to all their friends. I have a cousin (a man) who I speak to on the phone regularly. When I first told him I loved him, stumbled over it and stuttered out "I love you too". and hung up quickly. Now he says it first with ease. Funny.

I have a friend who was so used to responding to her husband and family with a quick I love you too response that it backfired. She is a prosecuting attorney. She was on the phone with a witness who was calling her from prison. He was so pleased with the deal, she cut him, he ended the call with, "I love you, Miss Gail!" She quickly answered that she loved him too and hung up. She raised her head to see her assistant and secretary staring at her in disbelief. LOL