Speak plainly. Especially about cookies

Jordan said I should blog about my latest attempts to speak plainly.

Here it is.

I have noticed that I speak with inferences. For instance, I would ask Mark, "Honey, would you like to go for a walk?" When what I really mean is "Honey, WILL you go on a walk with me?"

Or "Sweetie, what do you want for dinner, rigatonis, curry or salad?" When I really want curry.

Or "Honey, have you thought about going to see your Mom on Mother's Day" when I really mean is "Honey, you should go to see your Mom on Mother's Day as I'll be out of town."

So - today I wanted cookies. I asked Mark, "Have you done your home teaching yet?" I was thinking, "If you've not done your home teaching, I'd like you to make some cookies. But - I don't want a LOT of cookies (as often happens in our home, we cook too much), because I will eat more than I should. So - if you haven't done your home teaching - then you can take some of the extra cookies over to your home teaching families and get your teaching done AND make me happy with fresh cookies." But alas, I didn't get the second part out. :( Mark snapped at me that I shouldn't be asking about his responsiblities, as he didn't ask about mine. And no, he didn't want to make cookies.

So then, I explained the above to Jordan. And agreed that I wasn't speaking plainly - because I was trying to ascertain Dad's situation first. Mark was sitting at the table the entire time, listening.

After a nap I got up and began to make cookies. I still wanted some. Peanut butter with extra peanuts, cashews and white chocolate chips. I was hungry!

Mark came up after his nap.

"What are you doing?"

"Making cookies"

"I would have made you cookies"

"You said you didn't want to make cookies"

"You never asked me to make cookies, you asked if I had done my home teaching"

"You said you didn't want to make cookies"

"You never asked me to make cookies, you were explaining to Jordan, you never asked me."

"You're right, I expected you would understand my inference."

And so it went. He had heard my explanation (to Jordan) but decided not to get into it and instead wait for me to ask.

After making the batter I handed the beaters of goodness to Jordan. Mark walked into the kitchen.

"Hey! I want a beater" he said to Jordan, who was licking peanut butter yumminess.

I smiled and gave the other beater to Ben.

"Hey! Can't I have a beater?" He asked Ben.

Then he looked at me. "Hey!"

"You never asked me. You're inferring."

Inferences can go both ways. :)