What is it like to have absolutely every single thing you say repeated back to you? Just ask one of my boys. They live in a copycat bug-your-brother-to-death kind of world these days. And it’s starting to bug me to death too.
Nearly ninety-five percent of what one of my sons says is copied back to him by one of his siblings. Not in a nice, “Is this what you said?” kind of way. But in a snotty, high-pitched messed-up voice kind of way.
These annoying copying spells are always followed by shouts of, “Mom, he’s mimicking me again!” Then the victim will lash out, fists flying, beating his brother until I intervene.
It’s exhausting. And it’s happening all the time.
I just don’t get it.
What is so fun about copying your brother? Why do you use that mean, snotty voice? Why do you want to repeat everything he says? Why can’t you stop? How do you even know what the work mimicking means?
These are some serious questions I ask my kids on a regular basis.
I guess the positive side is if I don’t hear all of what one of my sons says I can wait about 5 seconds to hear it again. Granted it’s not in the same context or tone, but it’s verbatim.
I know if my mother is reading this she’ll agree that some of this is probably Karma. I both bugged my siblings as well as shouted, “Mom he’s copying me!” all throughout my childhood.
But that doesn’t mean I want my boys doing it. It doesn’t mean I can handle it any more. I’m about to go nuts. They have even started copying our new Furby – Da Ena U Te?
Seriously?
What can I do to get my boys to show respect to one another? How can I get them to realize how annoying it is to have every word they say repeated?
Maybe I should start mimicking too. Maybe a taste of their own medicine would be just the ticket.
If I do it, maybe they’ll realize how stupid it looks and sounds and they’ll be horrified.
But I don’t know if I can do it. Can I stoop to that level? Can I make that same annoying voice that they make? Probably. Well, actually I’m almost certain I can, but will I? No, I doubt it. I can’t listen to it any longer let alone make that sound myself.
Help!
Boogers on the Wall 
Jul 31, 2014 @ 22:59:21
I think every mom has gone through this. I would just put them in the same room and tell them enjoy yourself. They would have to stay put for one half hour. Wish I could say this helped. The best think is to tell them just to not pay attention to the one doing it.
Aug 05, 2014 @ 22:13:38
I should LOCK them in the same room LOL. But you are right, who knows if it would help. We’ll have to keep going down the ignore-your-brother route. Wish me luck!