Signification
Problems grow as children get older.
Contexte culturel
In Norway, the phrase is often used with a sense of 'galgenhumor' (gallows humor) among parents who are exhausted by the demands of modern parenting. The phrase is equally common in Denmark and is attributed to the same historical collections of proverbs, reflecting a shared Scandinavian parenting philosophy. Swedes use 'Små barn, små bekymringar' (worries) almost as often as 'sorger', showing a slight shift toward a more psychological vocabulary. This proverb reflects the 'empty nest' anxiety common in Western cultures where children are expected to move out and become fully independent, yet parents remain emotionally tethered.
Use it for empathy
This is a great phrase to use when you want to show an older parent that you respect the difficulty of their current stage of life.
Don't be too negative
If you use this too much, you might sound like you dislike children. Balance it with 'små gleder' occasionally.
Signification
Problems grow as children get older.
Use it for empathy
This is a great phrase to use when you want to show an older parent that you respect the difficulty of their current stage of life.
Don't be too negative
If you use this too much, you might sound like you dislike children. Balance it with 'små gleder' occasionally.
Teste-toi
Fyll inn de manglende ordene i ordtaket.
Små barn, små ______; store barn, store ______.
Ordtaket bruker ordet 'sorger' for å beskrive bekymringene foreldre har.
Når er det mest naturlig å bruke dette ordtaket?
Venninnen din forteller at hennes 20 år gamle sønn har mistet jobben og er deprimert.
Ordtaket anerkjenner at bekymringene for voksne barn er tunge og 'store'.
Match starten av setningen med riktig fortsettelse.
Koble sammen delene.
Dette er den faste strukturen i ordtaket.
Fullfør dialogen med riktig form av ordtaket.
A: Jeg er så sliten av at 3-åringen min aldri vil sove. B: Jeg skjønner, men husk hva de sier: ______.
B bruker første del av ordtaket for å hinte om at problemene vil bli større senere.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesSmå barn, små ______; store barn, store ______.
Ordtaket bruker ordet 'sorger' for å beskrive bekymringene foreldre har.
Venninnen din forteller at hennes 20 år gamle sønn har mistet jobben og er deprimert.
Ordtaket anerkjenner at bekymringene for voksne barn er tunge og 'store'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Dette er den faste strukturen i ordtaket.
A: Jeg er så sliten av at 3-åringen min aldri vil sove. B: Jeg skjønner, men husk hva de sier: ______.
B bruker første del av ordtaket for å hinte om at problemene vil bli større senere.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsNot at all. While the language is traditional, the sentiment is very much alive in modern Norwegian parenting culture.
It's occasionally used jokingly for pets (e.g., 'små hunder, små sorger'), but it's 99% used for human children.
'Sorg' implies a deeper emotional pain or worry, which fits the parental bond better than the more clinical 'problem'.
Expressions liées
Eplet faller ikke langt fra stammen
similarThe apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Små barn, små gleder
contrastSmall children, small joys.
Man har det ikke morsommere enn man gjør det til selv
builds onYou don't have more fun than you make for yourself.
