Hmm

Hmm, an expression said when no other response is necessary or known. Over our Christmas family vacation, my sister, a 5^th grade school teacher was lamenting that her children don’t often listen and she repeats information when they give random excuses for not listening the first time. My mother, 88, former school teacher and mother of 9 children and 15 grandchildren, in her wisdom told my sister that perhaps she should just respond by saying “hmm”, next time one of her students did not listen and gives an excuse. Not knowing this story that was told while I was at the store, I would hear my sister and mother respond to certain situations with a sly “hmm”.  After I returned home from Christmas vacation, I asked my beloved mother to share this story of hmm. To me it is so funny I could rotfl, a text abbreviation-meaning roll on the floor laughing. However, upon further reflection, the depth of hmm, articulates in a very specific way for my sister, that she will continue to teach and expect her students to listen going forward. Try it for a little while and watch what happens, all judgment of what might have been said in lieu of hmm goes away. It is actually quite an effective was to respond. Hmm, it is working even now, hmm.  With all the possible New Year’s resolutions, mine will include using hmm in lieu of judgment, frustration or other negative response. Hmm what do you think of that, hmm.