Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

‘She’s Calling You ‘Dumb’ And Telling You She Wants To Drink Alcohol’: Mom Hilariously Fails At Teaching Her Baby Sign Language
532

‘She’s Calling You ‘Dumb’ And Telling You She Wants To Drink Alcohol’: Mom Hilariously Fails At Teaching Her Baby Sign Language

ADVERTISEMENT

Children have an incredible capacity for learning, so it makes sense for them to start early. This applies especially to languages; what would be a hell of a struggle for an adult comes just so much easier for a baby and their sponge-like brains. (Facebook cover image: Shutterstock)

Image credits: shutterstock / sandsun (not the actual photo)

This mom, posting on the subreddit r/tifu, (Today I F****d Up) described her experience of teaching a little sign language to her baby girl, inspired by the ‘Pinterest Moms’ of a local parenting group.

“I go to this ‘mommy and me’ thing every week with my daughter,” she wrote. “Not because it’s my kind of thing, but because my mother-in-law paid the membership for a year as a ‘Christmas gift’ to my one-year-old (AKA she doesn’t think I am socializing her grandchild enough and this was her way of passive-aggressively correcting my parenting).”

“Anyways, we go to this thing every week for an hour and all the Pinterest moms are planning themed birthday parties and discussing screen time and sharing gluten free recipes while their kids stare at each other. But all these kids know sign language, and I thought that was pretty damn cool. So I start looking into this and try teaching my kid some basic signs for basic needs, and it’s working! Suddenly, my tiny human who otherwise could not effectively communicate with me knows how to say “more” and “all done” and “drink”! She can call me mom and my husband, dad! Holy s**t! Thanks, Pinterest moms! I take back all the s**t I talked about you to my kid on our weekly drives home.”

“Well today with my husband out of town, I didn’t feel much like cooking and since my daughter is pretty laid back at restaurants I decided to go out for a quick dinner. The kid loves French fries and so do I. So we hit the local burger joint and I order a beer, a burger with fries, and a side of fruit. The server brings a little Styrofoam cup with a lid and a straw filled with water for my daughter, and I set it out of her reach so she doesn’t hulk smash the Styrofoam and make a mess. So, of course, every time she wants some, she signs “drink”. And every time she wants my attention, she signs “dad” because apparently, the slightly different sign for “mom” isn’t as fun for her. Ok, whatever.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Well I notice a couple tables away, there are a couple of women who are also signing to each other but they’re looking over at us and snickering. I’m like okay, I did like 4 quick google searches, maybe I botched some of what I taught her. It’s fine. But then as the women are leaving, they stop by our table and one of them lays her iPhone down with a message typed out for me to read. It says something to the effect of “she’s calling you ‘dumb’ and telling you she wants to drink alcohol”.

“I’m like… wait… what? So she continues to show me that I have in fact taught my daughter the wrong signs, that there are different signs for “drink (non-alcoholic beverage)” and “drink alcohol” and by balling her first up instead of using a flat hand at her forehead, my daughter has been calling me dumb instead of dad which was already wrong obviously since I am her mom. I can only imagine what the Pinterest moms would’ve done had I shown up next week with my kid asking to drink liquor.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: iStock / nedomacki (not the actual photo)

The amusing tale proved a hit with other Reddit users, who went on to describe their own stories of kids misspeaking. Some people questioned the need to teach sign language to a baby, did she have any problems with development of speech? “This happened 4 years ago when my now 5-year-old was 12 months old. She speaks English well, for all of you who were concerned for her development,” she explained. “She is not deaf or mute, she was just a 12-month-old who knew what she wanted but was at an age where awareness of wants/needs and developmental capabilities of verbal communication did not meet. Most babies will just babble or even use a single word or two (typically mama or dada) intentionally as early as 6 months, but most kids at 12 months old can only say 1-3 words. She knew she was thirsty and would like a drink, but could not yet say ‘hey mom, please give me my cup.’ However, sign language can be very quickly learned by children as young as 6-9 months old. This helps break a language barrier and can really help foster communication right away. AKA less screaming babies and more sane parents. Disclaimer: I’m just a mom of two kids, not a child development professional by any means!”

ADVERTISEMENT

Here’s what people had to say about the funny story

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on Facebook
Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

Read less »
Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
ronelduplessis avatar
Ronel du Plessis
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am busy learning sign language, but DAYUM it is difficult! It takes a while, since I also do not have deaf friends, it really takes a while to learn.

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good luck and keep at it. Don't give up and keep practicing. In many countries there are news etc. the usual way with sound but with also a extra window in the corner with a signing person. There are even concerts you can go to or watch on youtube for hearing people but also with singing so everyone can enjoy them (I think you can even find the eurovision song contest with signing). You can find it all on the internet and on certain channels on TV and some live concerts have a signing person there on the stage or in the corner of the stage. It can be really useful. You can find a whole new community and a whole new world and culture with sign language that you wouldn't find otherwise. I've been thinking about learning it myself but sadly never got around to it. I only know a few signs

Load More Replies...
monkeystikx avatar
Herb Eaversmells
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn't really matter what the signs are, as long as the parent and child are on the same page. My son learned his version, but now that he talks it doesn't matter anymore

mssilvia8 avatar
boi
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@Vicky Zar i think what @ Full Name's trying to get at is that it's fine if you and your child's language is isn't accurate- you just might not want to use it in public, since it could offend other sign language users. like in this article's case, it doesn't have to be the child communicating with strangers with the sign language- they could just be talking to their mom and one sign language user happens to spot them and possibly take offense. or maybe they know another child who's deaf and starts to think "oh they speak sign language, i can too!" and confuse/offend the other child by doing so. @Full Name's just trying to get at whatever language between you and your child is okay, if you just tell them it's your language so they don't take the risk of offending other sign language users in public, which is literally what the entire article above is about. i don't think there's anything wrong with what he said

Load More Replies...
veni_vidi_vicky avatar
Vicky Zar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tought my now nearly 4 year old some signs, when he was little and couldn't speak yet. It doesn't matter if the signs are correct. The point is that the child has something to communicate until it can speak. And it helps A LOT!!!! He is now the best in kindergarden languagewise as sign language contributes to the learning of speech. He speaks two languages fluently, thank you very much. I don't get the comments about only teching sign language if the kid has some problem or other.

monika-soffronow avatar
Load More Comments
ronelduplessis avatar
Ronel du Plessis
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am busy learning sign language, but DAYUM it is difficult! It takes a while, since I also do not have deaf friends, it really takes a while to learn.

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good luck and keep at it. Don't give up and keep practicing. In many countries there are news etc. the usual way with sound but with also a extra window in the corner with a signing person. There are even concerts you can go to or watch on youtube for hearing people but also with singing so everyone can enjoy them (I think you can even find the eurovision song contest with signing). You can find it all on the internet and on certain channels on TV and some live concerts have a signing person there on the stage or in the corner of the stage. It can be really useful. You can find a whole new community and a whole new world and culture with sign language that you wouldn't find otherwise. I've been thinking about learning it myself but sadly never got around to it. I only know a few signs

Load More Replies...
monkeystikx avatar
Herb Eaversmells
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn't really matter what the signs are, as long as the parent and child are on the same page. My son learned his version, but now that he talks it doesn't matter anymore

mssilvia8 avatar
boi
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@Vicky Zar i think what @ Full Name's trying to get at is that it's fine if you and your child's language is isn't accurate- you just might not want to use it in public, since it could offend other sign language users. like in this article's case, it doesn't have to be the child communicating with strangers with the sign language- they could just be talking to their mom and one sign language user happens to spot them and possibly take offense. or maybe they know another child who's deaf and starts to think "oh they speak sign language, i can too!" and confuse/offend the other child by doing so. @Full Name's just trying to get at whatever language between you and your child is okay, if you just tell them it's your language so they don't take the risk of offending other sign language users in public, which is literally what the entire article above is about. i don't think there's anything wrong with what he said

Load More Replies...
veni_vidi_vicky avatar
Vicky Zar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tought my now nearly 4 year old some signs, when he was little and couldn't speak yet. It doesn't matter if the signs are correct. The point is that the child has something to communicate until it can speak. And it helps A LOT!!!! He is now the best in kindergarden languagewise as sign language contributes to the learning of speech. He speaks two languages fluently, thank you very much. I don't get the comments about only teching sign language if the kid has some problem or other.

monika-soffronow avatar
Load More Comments
You May Like
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda