Originally posted at Just Playing House.

My sister and I always had a pact that we'd have each others backs as we got older. Kind of like an accountability partner. Making sure the other didn't do, say, or turn into something that we had classified as bad.

This pact was born in the wake of seeing a stringy, black hair growing from our great grandmother's chin. We just couldn't fathom not having someone right there to tell us these ugly truths. Brutal honesty if you will. Let me just insert here, we didn't tell her about it. We probably should have, but we were young and stupid. She gets a pass though because at the time she was in her late 80's.

So like any good sister pact, it includes the "don't let me turn into Mom" clause. Mom, if you're reading this, don't take offense. It's nothing personal! If you remember correctly, a pact exists for us to not let you turn into your mother. So it's just the natural order of things. We still love you.

Well, I have realized that my sister is failing at keeping up her end of the bargain on this one! You see, I have caught myself saying a handful of "dumb mom sayings". Things we heard all the time that I swore I'd never say to my kids. No one is holding me accountable!! I may need to go get a mirror right now and check for black hairs myself!

Here are the 8 Ways I'm Turning Into My Mother:

1. Because I'm the mom, that's why. - I find myself saying this all the time! It just flies out of my mouth. As soon as I've said it, I realize my mistake. However, there is no taking it back. It's out there.
2. If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you too? - I would always have a smart ass response to this one when I heard it. Luckily, my kids aren't old enough for that yet. I still have time to banish this one from my vocabulary.
3. Close the door, we aren't paying to cool the outside. - Easily this one spills out a couple of times a day. The kids take the dog out. They leave the patio door open. The kids go out into the garage. They don't close the door all the way. I just need to install self-closing doors everywhere as my prevention.
4. Count to 3 - My kids have selective listening skills so this one may be impossible to stop. I guess I really need to figure out what happens when I get to 3! I need to call my Mom. She never got that far. With my kids, I have to change the subject after 2 because I don't know what should happen when I say 3.
5. Life is not fair - This comes up at least a few times a week. It's not fair that she gets the bigger piece. That he gets to stay up late. That she gets to go with Mom. That he gets to...you get the picture! Let me tell you kids, life is not fair that I have to spend so much time listening to you tell me that life is not fair.
6. Find something to do or I will find you something to do - Luckily, my kids haven't gotten into the "I'm bored" phase yet. I'm sure it's coming. This statement is usually applied to going outside. They know it means cleaning something up if they don't get outside to play. The scary part is, I've had them ask if they can clean instead of going outside. How am I supposed to get some quiet if my threat backfires?! I definitely need to banish this one from my vocabulary.
7. Don't make me tell you again - I mentioned my kids selective listening before? Hence the reason this statement has become part of my rotation.
8. When I was a little girl - Yep, these stories have started. Now they don't involve me walking up hill to school both ways in the snow, but it's still the same idea. Talk about making me feel old when I have to tell my kids things like "when I was a little girl we didn't have video games like you do" or "when I was a little girl we went outside and played all day". Why are these such shocking statements?! Definitely a sign I'm getting old.

Please tell me I'm not the only one! What are the things you swore you'd never say that are now part of your normal vocabulary?