What were you thinking? How many times have your parents asked you this question? I wouldn't be able to count the number of times if I tried. I can tell you, though, it is one of the most insulting and painful comments they make to me. It implies that I have no brain or, that if I have one, I chose not to use it during the incident they are referring to.
"What were you thinking?" is usually followed by "Now that was a stupid thing to do, wasn't it?" How am I supposed to respond when this is their opening statement? I know they really don't want to hear my explanation, so why do they bother to even ask such a ridiculous rhetorical question?
What were you thinking when you decided to skip work and go to the house of the person you are dating? Let's see, I could tell them the truth, or I could just let them finish the sentence themselves. Were you there for sex, alcohol, drugs or just to hang out? If those are my choices, I think I will select the least of the offenses and lie about why I was there. That's really smart of me, huh, because then I get in more trouble for lying.
What was I thinking, trying to lie my way out of a bad situation? I often want to say back to them, "Then why did you give me the options? You knew I would lie, didn't you?"
What were you thinking, Mom and Dad, when you decided to have such a stupid kid? What were you thinking when you accused of me of something without wanting to hear the truth about what I WAS thinking? Maybe I need to turn this around and, when I see you coming, I need to start the conversation like this: "Please think about what you are getting ready to imply, Mom and Dad, before you start asking me what I was thinking!"
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