Before You Had Kids

This is ancient history now. When I was little and strayed off the straight and narrow, my Mom used to say, "What's the matter with you?" Emphasis on the word 'matter' and not really a question. When I was finishing a Psychology degree and participated in group (practice) sessions, I learned that as a child, I didn't know what "was the matter" with me. But I "knew" there was something because Mom kept asking about it. I swore I'd never say that to my kids. A few years later I caught myself saying the same thing, including the tone and inflection, to my daughter. I only said it once and we talked about my mistake.