You know, I pride myself on a quick wit. Rarely am I without some sort of snappy comeback. At the park this kid loudly says, "You're prettier than my mommy." Yeah....I had nothing. Still got nothing several hours later. Soooo glad his mommy wasn't standing near enough to hear and he ran off shortly there after. I would have ran off too if I paid some lady a compliment and she just stared at me. LOL. He was only like four, so I know he didn't say it to be mean to his mom.
What the hell do you say to that? Thanks? That's not very nice? You're four, what do you know? (Obviously not the last one).
Ever have a kid (other than your own) catch you so off guard all you can do is blink at them?
I should rephrase. I don't get snappy with children, adults. I just usually have a response when joking around. I know he was being nice to me, but I felt weird saying Thank You because I felt like it might be insulting to his mother. In all honesty, I was probably just over thinking. I do that at times. :)
S.H. LOL Yes, that is exactly what I felt like! I would have laughed it off too, if it were my kid. I didn't know the other woman, so I just froze up.
What is wrong with a smile and saying thank you?
An innocent child paid you a compliment. Just say than you.
Pride goeth before the fall....NOT lolING...children need to understand that beauty is more inside...then outside.
I would say, "No I'm not, your mommy is the prettiest mommy in the world because she loves you more than any other mommy".
I'd probably say something like, "Oh, well, different people think different things are beautiful. I think your mother looks like a princess. Thank you for the compliment."
You say thank you like you do with any compliment.
I'm thinking "Thank you" would be the obvious response! LOL
Kids see their moms as, well, MOMS!
I'd gladly smile & accept the comment
Why do you have to be snappy with a 4 year old? A simple thank you will suffice since he didn't mean anything other than stating the obvious by it. Why confuse him by saying it wasn't nice or making him feel his perception was not accurate? One time a kid told me I had a big tush. It's not big at all, just more round than his mom's pancake butt. I said thank you for noticing.
There would have been nothing wrong accepting the compliment and saying "thank you." Isn't that what we teach our children to do?
In fact, he paid you an enormous compliment. Every child thinks their mother is the most beautiful woman in the world and he found you SO BEAUTIFUL that you're even prettier than his own mother. That child deserved a thank you. Even if you look like Frankenstein's monster. :-)
Yah well, once, my friend's son told her "I wish Aunty Susan was my Mommy...." and my friend said to her son "Oh, how come?" And her son replied "Because she's younger and prettier than you and she's fun...."
(--- crickets chirping---)
So my friend calls me and tells me this.
Good thing she has a sense of humor and just laughed it off.
But I am actually older than her.
I had no come back. And I was on the phone with her!
But yah, per that kid that told you that, just ignore it. The kid is just a kid. The Mom didn't hear it.
No biggie.
I probably would have said, "Oh I bet your mom is very pretty!" or probably would have just smiled blankly like you because I wish I had a quick wit. Usually, days later I'm still looking for the right retort.
Haven't been caught off guard yet but I'm definitely expecting it! I would have said, "thank you." If I'm prettier than your mommy than she must be beautiful!"
I would probably go on with the old 'it's on the inside that counts' type of thing. But I reallly like Toni V''s answer.
I probably would have said "Wow, you're so sweet, thank you", or just smiled politely without saying anything, just because I'm shy when it comes to compliments.
I feel ya! Before I got married and since becoming a sahm 5 yrs ago, a compliment would have been no big deal. I worked in transportation and I was 1 of the 10 ladies there out of 300 people so if I deserved it or not, I got lots :) fast forward a lot of pounds, not enough nail and hair appointments and putting myself last its just weird! I too pride myself in my wittiness and the other day at my baby's kindergarten class I was waiting to get her and one of the dads complimented me on my hair (Walgreens colored it for me) and told me how nice it looked. Im sure I looked like a idiot just standing there staring at him but hell! I Havnt felt good about myself in a long time and it caught me off guard. My first thought was is he talking to me?? Yet we were the only ones standing there! I said thank you and it really did make me feel good but somewhat weird at the same time. I would just say thank you and smile. Or you can take the advice if my 16 yr old.....
He said, good mom! You should smile and keep it in your "I know im bad file"!! Love that kid :)
You say 'aw that's nice' but instead of gloat in it, let the kid know not to go around saying that about his mommy
