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In comedy, one-liners deliver a zinger, but they have an entirely different use in the parenting world. Parenting one-liners are clear, concise, and memorable comments that are meant to communicate an idea with a short and sweet repetition. And they seem to work with kids.
Nicole, a mom of three and former elementary school teacher recently kicked off a conversation on TikTok about one-liners moms and dads use with their kids. In her video, Nicole shares that she was inspired by another mother, whose favorite parenting one-liner is, “You can be mad, but you can’t be mean.”
Parents took to the comments section to share their favorite one-liners, including:
- “Every family has different rules” as a response to questions like, “Well, how come they can do [XYZ]?”
- “We don’t comment on other people’s bodies.”
- “Asked and answered,” if a kid keeps asking the same question or making the same request (like goldfish crackers when dinner will be ready in five minutes).
- “Don’t yuck someone else’s yum,” used when a child comments on something someone else likes that they don’t, like a food or a show. (Think of it as an alternative to “you do you.”)
- “Stop means stop. No means no,” as a way to teach consent, even in situations where people are playing a game (but one person grows tired of it).
- “You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but you have to be friendly,” to encourage kindness and teach boundaries.
- “I’m sorry is just words. A real apology is a change in behavior.”
- “We keep surprises, not secrets.”
- “All feelings are welcome. All behaviors are not.”
- “You don’t have to like them, but you can’t recruit others not to like them.”
- “That is not a choice right now.”
- “It’s OK to not be OK.”
Source: Parents