I’m driving my 8-year-old son to the train station to pick up his mother after work at the train station. He’s telling me about a kid that bothered him in school last year.
Him: Dad, he made me very upset. He really pushes my buttons.
Me: Well, try not to get worked up. If you lose your temper you’ll be in trouble.
Him: Yeah but he really pushes my buttons, you know? He really does push my buttons.
Me: When did you start saying “pushes my buttons”??
Him: I heard you say it today.
I was working from home that day and had to deal with another fine example of social darwinism. Later on while speaking to someone I said that phrase and my son picked it up.
Little kids do not miss a thing. Good thing he didn’t hear the more acerbic comments I sometimes make…