You're fired!

No we haven't been watching the Apprentice - The Trumpster's hair is far too frightening to subject my kids to.

We have been watching Spongebob Squarepants though, seeing as this is the last week before school starts, so I don't mind letting them watch their favourite yellow sponge before hitting the books!

In any case, they've picked up this new phrase "You're fired" - and they have no idea what it really means.
They do use it in context though, and threaten each other daily;
"Give me that toy, OR YOU'RE FIRED"
"Come outside with me OR YOU'RE FIRED"

I suppose in a way it's my fault for using the "do X or you'll get Y" formula for all manner of things - from getting them to bed to picking up their toys. It's not uncommon to hear me threaten "Get into your jammies or you won't be able to watch TV" so they know the formula - just not the meaning.

This became all too clear to me the other night when my 5 yr old wanted a drink before bedtime.
Since we are trying to get out of the pull-ups at night because they are nothing more than expensive diapers, I've instituted the "no drinking right before bed" rule for him. It's difficult because his little brother always has a drink, and we dare not change that routine - as he gets his nighttime meds in his nighttime drink and we must not ever change the nighttime ritual for anything. Besides, the 4 yr old is fully night trained and has been for a while - getting himself up at all hours of the night to use the bathroom, regardless of how much melotonin we've given him.
So it was not met with the stamp of approval, this no drinking before bed idea, but we've told him that it's either a drink and a pull-up, or no drink and no pull-up.
This brought out his angry side and he quickly demanded
"bring me a drink - OR YOU'RE FIRED - and I'll use REAL FIRE!!!!"

After leaving the room quickly whilst stifling a laugh and running downstairs to tell my hubby while we giggled together, I calmly went back upstairs to tell him that the rules remain the same - and to explain what "you're fired" actually means.

'There's no fire' I told him.
'Being fired means you lose your job - You know how spongebob has a job working at the Krusty Krab, well, when Mr Crabs tells him he could be fired, it means he would not be allowed to work at the Krusty Krab anymore'

I could almost see a lightbulb go on over Duncan's head. Along with a little relief that he wouldn't have to use fire to make good on his threat.

'You can't fire mummy' I said -"Because I'm always going to be your mummy"
"And you'll love me to infinity and beyond?"
"Of course I will"

Today I had to explain to him the meaning of "Poop deck".

Thankyou Nickleodeon, for making our summer so educational.

Happy Anniversary Julie!