Sensitivity is such a hardship.
― The Louvin Spoonful (WmC), Saturday, 2 April 2011 14:13 (twelve years ago) link
not sensitivity so much as not sounding like you are talking about killing your pet cat
i dunno, "put down" also assigns all this agency to the parent like "woe is me, i had to really work at it". and maybe you did. but there's the cat-killing thing too. why not instead of "we put him down at 8:30 last night" say "he fell asleep at 8:30" or "he went to bed at 8:30" the way every other human being gets talked about??
― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Sunday, 3 April 2011 23:57 (twelve years ago) link
Because put down /= fell asleep. Went to bed implies the baby did it on their own like they just waved good night, closed their bedroom door and popped themselves into the crib. In my experience the bedtime experience is more like killing a pet cat than it is like that.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Monday, 4 April 2011 00:44 (twelve years ago) link
How's about the old standard: "We put him/her to bed." ?
― Christine Green Leafy Dragon Indigo, Monday, 4 April 2011 01:03 (twelve years ago) link
Has a vaguely mobbish overtone. I like it.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Monday, 4 April 2011 02:50 (twelve years ago) link
Went to bed implies the baby did it on their own like they just waved good night, closed their bedroom door and popped themselves into the crib.
i think everybody understands that it does not work like this - so you don't have to pat yourself on the back every time you mention it
christine's sounds like a perfectly sensible compromise
unless you accidentally say "we put him to sleep"
― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Monday, 4 April 2011 09:19 (twelve years ago) link
it just sounds so.... arrogant! "my boy was a cryin and a wailin... so i had to put him down"
another shade of meaning for "to put down" is to insult. it's a very negative phrase!
― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Monday, 4 April 2011 09:28 (twelve years ago) link
i've been loving this conversation
― J0rdan S., Monday, 4 April 2011 09:32 (twelve years ago) link
I always assumed 'putting down' was a hangover from a time when mothers carried babies around when they were awake (so put them down for sleepytime). Whatever, this seems like a bit of a weird discussion, given that we all know what a strange thing the English language is.
― Madchen, Monday, 4 April 2011 10:49 (twelve years ago) link
no there is RIGHT and WRONG
― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Monday, 4 April 2011 23:09 (twelve years ago) link
so let's just agree, not to disagree exactly, but that i am right and everyone who thinks otherwise is wrong.
― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Monday, 4 April 2011 23:10 (twelve years ago) link
Went to bed implies the baby did it on their own like they just waved good night, closed their bedroom door and popped themselves into the crib.i think everybody understands that it does not work like this
i think everybody understands that it does not work like this
Ah, one time we were all "Amber's very quiet... " we went to see where she'd got to and found her in bed, fast asleep. She'd clearly decided she was sleepy and put herself to bed. She was 18 months old at this point.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 5 April 2011 13:17 (twelve years ago) link