"I can't believe I have to lose it with you two before you take any notice of me. And when I'm so perfect as well."
Boy #2's head came up from where he was paying close attention to some lego contraption. "What?"
"Don't say 'what', say 'I beg your pardon.' And I said, I wish I didn't have to shout for you two to pay any attention to what I'm asking you to do. Especially when I'm the world's best mother."
"Yeees." Boy #2 nodded his head.
On a roll, I thought I would push it a bit further. "And when I'm so wonderful, and beautiful, and generally gorgeous, as well..."
"Yes" he agreed, straight-faced. "You are."
Boy #1 poked his head around the edge of the door. "And don't you think that she's really hot too, Boy #2?"
Hmm. Being called 'hot' by my son? Not OK. But how to explain what is - and what isn't - an appropriate compliment for a son to give his mother when he's 8 years old, wants to make her feel good, and is not yet (thank god) tuned in to the double meaning of words? 'Beautiful' - fine. 'Pretty' - also fine. 'Hot'? Is not.
I got around it by suggesting that 'hot' is the sort of thing you might say about a girl you wanted to marry and have a family with (not that the two have to go hand in hand of course, but it is the model they know), but that it wasn't the sort of thing to say to your mum. Unless, of course, you are talking about her looking a little flustered...
But how would you have dealt with it?
