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Selective Memory, TV, and Children

My son has the ability to forget just about anything. So far, in Grade 1, he has forgotten his boots at school in a blizzard (he wore his indoor runners as mules through drifts of snow), every detail of what he did in class yesterday, and where he put the remote control to our brand new TV.

This is sometimes hard to cope with; I have a Rainman way of remembering useless details from my past, including every phone number I’ve had over the last three decades. William’s lack of attention to reality is also hard for my husband to deal with, as was evidenced when the William “misplaced” the remote control to our two-day-old TV.

But sometimes William surprises us. Like when he was four (or was it five? My own memory appears to be going). At this age, he could – and still can – recite the entire Slap Chop commercial verbatim.

Something similar happened this morning, more proof that William not only watches too much TV, but also remembers anything he sees on a screen. As one of those kids who goes from sleeping heavily to being wide awake in the time it takes me to blink, he bounded into our bedroom at 6:30, mere moments after waking. He picked up my book light, a new heavy duty one that should weather the worst of anything insomnia throws my way.

Thing 1 in a Noose
Either Thing One is in a noose or he's put his head through a toilet seat.

“Hi, Mom,” he said. I blinked and he came into a blurry focus that those who wear glasses experience.

I mumbled a greeting and felt for my glasses.

He turned on my book light. “How much did this cost?” he asked.

“I don’t know, “ I said. “Nineteen dollars, I think.”

“Nighteen dollars?” he said, in a morning radio voice that would rival the homeless radio guy who’s gone viral. “That’s less than a dollar a day!”

Evidently William remembers everything he hears on the screen. I may start videotaping myself saying things like “clean up your room” and “turn off the TV.”

*

Any pet peeves out there about your own kids…

or about other people’s kids?

Filed Under: Aging (Un)Gracefully, Hilarious Family Moments Tagged With: children, memory, Slap Chop Man, TV

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christine says

    January 8, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    My husband is exactly like you! Never forgets a phone number. My 4yo, however, also has a severe case of selective memory. Drives me nuts!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      January 11, 2011 at 9:13 pm

      Yes, with children it’s so frustrating. I suspect it is with adults too.

      Reply
  2. annaliterally says

    January 8, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    Way too cute!

    I’m not going to candy-coat it for ya. It doesn’t get better. My 8yo left her boot on the bus a few weeks ago. That’s not a typo. Just. One. Boot.

    Now, we live in Alaska. It was forty below. We’re talking her good gear, 80-below boot. On the bus.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      January 11, 2011 at 9:14 pm

      I read your Alaska experience aloud to DH. We are both LOL.

      Reply
  3. Larry Hehn says

    January 8, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    That’s freaky. I remember almost every TV commercial that aired in the 70’s. And I have no idea where the TV remote is. Maybe there’s a hidden memory-altering ingredient in those sugary breakfast cereals…

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      January 11, 2011 at 9:14 pm

      Too funny. I guess sugary breakfast cereals = mind-altering substances for children.

      Reply
  4. Chase McFadden says

    January 9, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Child’s snow boot + flipped into middle of kithen floor + melted puddle of water + me stepping in it with only a sock on = Hulk-like rage

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      January 11, 2011 at 9:15 pm

      Just let KAW deal with it. If I had a KAW, that’s what I’d do…

      Reply
  5. red pen mama says

    January 10, 2011 at 9:45 am

    Flora remembers commercials, too, and tells me the stuff I should get. Pajama jeans. Snap-on smile. And so on. “You really need that, Mom,” she will say. I’m going to have to do something about her reaction to advertising someday. Either that, or teach her about copy writing!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      January 11, 2011 at 9:16 pm

      Copy writing = brilliant. Maybe William can get a Master’s degree in Jingles.

      Reply

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