When I tell my kids I will do something in a minute, what I'm really saying is: Please forget. — Karen Salmansohn
—What lingers after this line?
The Joke Behind the Delay
Karen Salmansohn’s line turns an ordinary parental phrase into a small confession. When a parent says, “in a minute,” the words sound like a promise, but the hidden hope is that the child’s request will quietly vanish. The humor works because it exposes a truth many caregivers recognize but rarely say aloud.
Children Hear Time Differently
At the same time, the joke depends on the gap between adult and child expectations. To a child, “a minute” can feel immediate and definite; to a busy parent, it often means “after I finish three other things and recover my sanity.” This mismatch turns a tiny phrase into a daily negotiation.
The Overloaded Parent’s Survival Tactic
Moving beyond the punchline, the quote reflects the mental load of parenting. Parents are constantly asked to find shoes, approve snacks, settle arguments, admire drawings, and answer impossible questions. In that swirl, “in a minute” becomes less deception than a survival strategy—an attempt to buy a breath of time.
Humor as Honest Self-Recognition
Salmansohn’s wit also works because it avoids pretending parents are endlessly patient. Like Erma Bombeck’s family essays in the 1970s, it finds comedy in domestic exhaustion rather than polished perfection. By laughing at the gap between intention and reality, parents can admit their limits without drowning in guilt.
The Hope That Memory Will Help
The phrase “Please forget” adds another layer: sometimes forgetfulness is the parent’s secret ally. Children ask for many things urgently, but not all requests survive more than sixty seconds. If the demand disappears, peace is restored without confrontation, negotiation, or another round of “why?”
A Gentle Truth About Family Life
Ultimately, the quote is not about neglect but about the comic improvisation of family life. Parents do intend to help, answer, and show up, yet they are also human beings juggling fatigue and interruption. Salmansohn captures that balance beautifully: love is present, but so is the wish that one small request might magically evaporate.
One-minute reflection
What feeling does this quote bring up for you?
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