My Seussical Life for 2003 December 17 (entry 2)

(7) Wed Dec 17 2003 12:24 Overheard: Atticus in the other room saying to his friend Matthew: "I'm going to be a dog in a manger. Are you going to be a dog in a manger?"

I tried to explain the phrase a while ago, and he'll repeat it in the funniest of times. I guess metaphors are above his head at this point in life.

Comments:

Posted by Kristen at Wed Dec 17 2003 13:37

I said that once around Aaron- I don't know it could have been to Aaron, hehe- but he didn't get it at all. He hadn't heard the saying. Maybe it is just a Whitney saying b/c mom said it all the time I think I have heard Frances say it too.?!

Posted by Alyson at Wed Dec 17 2003 13:39

I've heard it in an Indigo Girls song, so can't be just a Whitney saying. Interesting.

Posted by Susie at Wed Dec 17 2003 15:42

I don't even know what that means. I thought it was related to a Christmas play or something.

Posted by anonymous at Wed Dec 17 2003 15:57

A dog in a manger is a person who figuratively sits on something that others want/need, but the dog sits there not able to use it but impedes the other from using it to be mean or selfish, and ‘growls’ when others get near. Like the horses would like to eat the straw, but the dog sits in the manger just to keep the horse from eating.

Posted by Frances at Wed Dec 17 2003 18:41

It's one of Aesop's fables.

Posted by Alyson at Wed Dec 17 2003 19:08

It is a great one. Quite relevant to the life of a three-year-old.

Posted by Susie at Wed Dec 17 2003 20:35

Like a cat when you're trying to read.