Sherilyn Fisher (Mother)
Appearances
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yeah, you don't want to think that a marriage never has arguments.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yeah. Conflict, something's wrong. Exactly.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
No, my parents argued in front of us, and I didn't feel like that was a good thing.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yeah, it would escalate. And, you know, I saw the yelling, knock down, drag outs. Yeah. And it was not good. So I determined in my heart that I was never going to do that to my children.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
And so I wasn't a yeller. I really wasn't.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Very rarely. But my level, because I maintained a really...
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
calm voice most of the time like if I raised my voice because I was aggravated let's say on a scale of 1 to 10 I raised it to a 4 y'all would say mama you don't need to yell and I would be very offended because in my mind that was only a 4 because I was like no no no you don't understand I used to hear 15 at my house right yeah a little bit different yeah I would be highly offended because I was like this is not yelling this is just raising my voice because I'm aggravated yeah
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
I think it's crazy how your followers have just increased exponentially. But you being a good communicator does not surprise me. I guess just the social media aspect, I think your generation is more in tune with that. The Instagram and all the other social formats. But no, as far as you communicating well, that did not surprise me.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
You have communicated well ever since you were two and three and four. You've been an excellent communicator.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
In fact, I remember, and I guess because I talked to you all day long, and like you said, it was the two of us at home. I remember at church one day, a friend of mine coming in saying, Hey, Sherilyn, I just asked Jefferson if he'd seen his mama. And he said, Uh-huh, she's in the auditorium. She goes, What three-year-old says auditorium? I said, I don't know.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
I guess that's the way we talk to him at home. But you were an excellent communicator.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
He'd just talk, talk, talk.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
I've had friends tell me, oh, I used Jefferson's thing the other day. They listened to one of your posts, and they said, oh, telling that really helped me. It worked.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
That's good. I'm glad it's helping.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
You know, when you were speaking earlier, it brought to my mind that one other thing I did pray for. I pray, Lord, just help this child have the best of both of us. I did. I pray for you to have the best of both of us. And so I feel like he gave you that.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yeah. Well, of course, you always want your children to love the Lord and to be respectful and kind and... But I do remember praying for you that God would give you charisma. And I feel like he answered that in spades for you.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Well, I'm very proud of you, and I just want to say that when people see your 30-second little posts that you do, that's really who you are. That is not an act. That is genuinely who you are, and we're so proud of you.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Charisma to me is where somebody just... You're very likable and they like you. They don't even realize why they like you, but they just know they like you.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
I can just, I remember saying, you're not going to talk to me like that. That's not acceptable to me. Yeah. You say yes ma'am, no ma'am. And sometimes it's not only what you say, but the tone.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
You know, and I'd say you better watch your tone.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Would you like to say that again? Yes. A little bit more respectfully.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
That God would just give you favor wherever you went. And you always had lots of friends and your teachers loved you. Yeah. So, you know, I feel like he answered that.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yes, that's part of it right there.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
No. And it was barely. Just like, no, no.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
It's amazing how smart children are.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Well, I feel like you were always confident. You were confident. And you were very kind and caring. And so if the siblings were fighting, you did want to mediate. You did want them to, hey, hey, hey, what are y'all doing? Even without me telling you to do that. It's like I didn't expect you to be a mom. And I remember one time saying, Jefferson, I'm the mama.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
You know, because I was like, no, no, no, I'm here. I'm the mama. So a lot of it you took on yourself.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
To do that. But they adored you.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yeah, you're always very caring.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
They all just and they still do.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
And sometimes you helped more than I wanted you to.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
He's trying to find that hole in the fence. You did that too, though.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yeah. Yeah, you did that too.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yes, I spent a lot of time with you one-on-one.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
You wore me out. You talked 24-7 from the time your eyes opened to the time they closed. You talked to me all day long.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Don't allow your children to name call each other. I think that's, that's detrimental to them in a way. I mean, that's, I think it hurts them. If they just verbally let them abuse each other. Don't let your children do that to each other.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Even if they're a brother and sister, say, no, we're not going to be name-calling. No, we're not doing that.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Sure. And that they'll remember it from years down the road. No, to me, just don't let them do that to each other.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yes, yes. In fact, I remember when I put you in Mother's Day Out, I had to fill out on their form a When did your child first start talking? And I put as long as I can remember. And because I was serious, I was like, when did he? It's meant as long as I can remember. Yes. I'm sure by eight months, you were saying one words, you know.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
uh ai now and have like a whole plan but i mean you just didn't have that so every generation is kind of trying to see what's going to be the best to y'all to know that you were loved and yeah um i was very affectionate with y'all i hugged yes oh yeah i hugged on y'all all the time um
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
But to me, if the child feels loved, then to me it's a safe space for them to be able to communicate anything to you. They should feel safe to speak their mind. As long as it's respectful, then they should be able to say anything to you.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
And then by a year, I had a whole list of 20 plus words you were saying. And by 15 months, you were saying sentences plus.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
There was a pause. Pause. Like 10 seconds pause.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Probably like two and a half.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Yes. You bring us a lot of joy.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Well, behind our couch was an entire mirror on the wall. Just to make your living room look larger. But it was your complete mirror. You would get on the back of the couch on your knees, make faces, talk to yourself.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Well, I mean, you would make faces. And so if I were fessing at you on the couch, instead of looking at me, you're looking at yourself in the mirror to see how pitiful you look while you're crying or answering me. It was hilarious. And finally, I would say, David, you've got to take this mirror down.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
You got to get this. You got to get rid of it. You were very drama.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
No, it was cute. It was cute. But after a while, I got irritated because when I wanted you looking at me, you were looking at yourself in the mirror behind me.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Well, when I was pregnant with Sarah, I just didn't want you to feel left out. And I remember telling you when I was pregnant, this is going to be your baby sister. She's going to be your baby sister. And you were so excited when she was born and very protective of her and very proud. I don't feel like you were ever jealous of her.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
And I feel like with each one, you just kind of just enlarge your big brother role. You were always very kind, very protective of them. And even with Sarah, she was kind of a light talker because you talked for her.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
She would point and you'd go, Mama, she wants this.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Thank you. We called him the vowel man.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Oh, goodness, I don't know if there is a secret. But kindness matters.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
And I just – you always had such a sweetheart. You had a very sweetheart. I think you were naturally kind. But I wouldn't let y'all be rude and ugly to each other. When y'all were fighting, I wouldn't let you name call or any of that. I would say, no, y'all are going to be sweet to each other.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
I didn't really like a lot of arguing. I'd just say, all I need here is yes, ma'am.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
All I want here is yes, ma'am.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
Well, there's no sense in arguing about it.
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
How My Parents Raised an Expert Communicator
And I was like, Jefferson, whoa, whoa, whoa.