"The Momma Eyes"
By tentwo67
@tentwo67 (3382)
United States
January 15, 2007 9:29am CST
This is what I used to call it as a child when my mother could communicate her disappointment in whatever bad thing I was doing in public just by the look in her eyes. She wouldn't yell or spank me in public like we see more and more people doing with their kids these days, but I would know that once we were in private again I was in trouble!
Just a few minutes ago I successfully used the momma eyes on my little boy. It's MLK day so we are lazy at home right now and I brought my laptop into his room to hang out with him while he is playing. I looked over and he was trying to climb up a bookshelf with the help of his bunkbeds. I didn't say a word, since he saw me looking at him. I just looked at him and raised my eyes and he climbed back down, then he said, "I was being careful not to hurt myself, Mommy"
It was hard to not laugh at this but I managed!
What about the rest of you guys? Do you remember the Momma Eyes (or Daddy Eyes) growing up? Do you use it now as a parent??
5 people like this
13 responses
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
15 Jan 07
Boy do I! Just a glance and my Momma said a whole story to me. LOL I don't call them Momma eyes, since I use them on more than my children. My husband in public or with company has gotten them and you bet he knows what I am saying, LOL. I have friends that I use them on as well. Mostly not in a correcting way, but to point out something. Isn't if funny how words just aren't necessary at times?
1 person likes this
@tentwo67 (3382)
• United States
15 Jan 07
I guess because it was so strongly associated with my mother growing up I still think of it as The Momma Eyes no matter who they're being used on! I do use them for more than my child, but it's still Momma Eyes to me.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one with these memories!
And, yes, it's very interesting to see how much you can communicate without opening your mouth!
@concealed24beauty (175)
• United States
18 Jan 07
i do you remember those eyes I think they are pasted down to all moms from there mom all the way back to our great grands you know.It is so funny how much authority a mothers eye hold. I laugh because even my smallest boy at 1 yrs will stop in his tracks with one look.
@Danniet (376)
• United States
16 Jan 07
Yes I do remember the Mommy Eyes, LOL! It took me a little while to learn to listen to those eyes. My mother was never afraid to spank me in public so if I didn't listen I got it wherever we were. After time I realized that if I got that look I'd better stop whatever I was doing and behave. My mom's look was a warning of things to come and I can still picture it to this day, I do occassionally use "the look" and I believe my kids are already familiar with it. I guess it's a tradition.
@alainnmiog (660)
• United States
17 Jan 07
I remember this vividly!! My mother had it down to a science, and my dad could freeze us kids with one quick look. The look told us that if we continued to do what we were attempting to do, all hell was going to break loose on our rear end when we got home.
I try to use the look, but it doesn't work all the time. I guess I need to work on my follow-through.
1 person likes this
@imranwajid (741)
• Germany
16 Jan 07
Yes I do remebre it. At times I used to get this as I was always doing something. I am not a parent but I do use a staring look on some small children and it is effective at times.
@angnima (772)
• Nepal
16 Jan 07
I belong to Daddy Eyes. My dad used to do the same with me
during my childhood.
I copied the way and now using for my son.
This is my best way to control my son.
I have no experience about Momma Eyes.
@xXmeganxX (4420)
•
16 Jan 07
i always remember the momma eyes, i used to call them the evil eyes tho, lol, whenever i was in the wrong my mum used to raise her eyebrows and id be well scared, i don't do it to my child now that im a parent, i just shout, but my boyfriend does it to our daughter when she does something wrong and she looks away and sighs, lol i think she knows that there called the evil eyes already and she knows what they mean, yet she's only nearly 2, but i suppose it's better than shouting because id be too shy to shout at my child in public and so would my partner be!
1 person likes this
@poonamkhattri (38)
• India
16 Jan 07
i forgot this part actually i always shriek baba i am having ten month very small baby.now i should do this thanx
@kitten2307 (35)
• Ireland
16 Jan 07
oh yeah the look i remember it well. It sent shivers down my spine lol. Yeah i use it on my girls to and it does have more effect (and is a lot nicer) than a slap. I think its the idea that we dont scream and shout that frightens the kids more they think ohhh im in trouble now shes not even shouting oooppps lol
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
15 Jan 07
OMG. Yes, I remember. I didn't call it 'momma eyes,' I called it 'the look.' I knew that when she gave me that look, it meant that when she had me alone again, there was going to be trouble! 'The look' was one of those things that I swore I would never do to my children. As was the use of 'grounding'as punishiment, the use of the middle name when extrememly angry and so on. But guess what, I too use 'the look' with my children and many more of my mom and dad's parenting techniques. Come to find out, once I had children of my own, I realized that my parents were awesome!
1 person likes this
@destroyer (784)
• Pakistan
16 Jan 07
Oh! yeah this one does strike a cord! whenever i use to do something that i wasnt supposed to and when they were other people around my mom used to give me the "stare" she used to narrow her brows and give me a good stare, it was akin to saying cease and desist! i immediately stopped doing whatever i was doing!
Since i am not married yet i havent had the opportunity to use the "stare" or "Daddy eyes" but it is an effective way of communicating your disapproval i must admit!
1 person likes this
@Kangleicha (376)
• India
16 Jan 07
Well, I use to get the Momma's Eyes a few times when I was a kid. But I was never a naughty kid, so I get very less. But i know what you are talking about.
I wonder if I would use it to my own future children. Well that remains to be seen.
