I merely offer a funny observation today.

I've noticed that other parents do this, but now I'm noticing Paulette and me doing it as well: communicating to the other parent by what you say to the child. Essentially, you say something to the child that might normally be a part of your conversation, but what you're really doing is conveying information to your partner who happens to be within earshot.

Example:

Parent #1: Well, Child, after we get you cleaned up, perhaps Parent #2 will take you out for a walk.

Translation: Honey? I know you're listening. Will you please take Child out for a walk? I need a break after we finish cleaning up, here.

I've seen this sort of nonsense on sitcoms (usually it's more malignant, like: "Child, if Parent #2 doesn't take you out for a walk, then I'm going to owe you a lot of money for therapy because of our resulting divorce..."), and then occasionally with friends of ours as they started to have kids (not quite so malignant). Now we've got a kid in the house, and we're doing it, too.

Was this learned? Did we pick this up from the sitcoms and our friends? Or is this actually a naturally programmed way for humans to interact? Yet one more means of indirect communication? Hmmmm.