Are You a Snoop? Well, It Depends. Define Snoop.
Photo Credit to Ambro http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
We’ve come to know many different people in our lives as ‘snoops’,
but did you know where the word comes from?
First let me tell you about some snoops I’ve come across….ME! When my daughter was a young teen and just getting into high school, boys, etc. The girl would not talk…about the boys, high school, nothing. I’d keep pouring out more and more advice and wanted feedback from her, but what a clam up! Sometimes she would talk when we were in the car together which I have discovered through having teens is a great way to talk and listen to your kids. Nobody is looking at the other person and they are captive in the vehicle. This girl took a page from my book and has been known to be called, Nancy Drew by her friends. So you can see it’s hereditary…right?
Is there ‘friendly’ snooping?
But this is not about teens, just snoops and snooping. There are people who hear a rumor or conversation and spread it like wildfire. Then there are those that stand behind closed blinds and peek out the blinds slats to check on things. Some kids accuse parents or others they ‘friend’ on Facebook of always snooping on them. (Warning: always make sure you are friended by your child on Facebook to keep check on the feed, friends and any stalkers. Then go into their settings and make sure they haven’t put you into a separate grouping that allows them to keep you from seeing certain friends, photos, or activity. I’m just sayin’.)
Back to the word ‘snoop’.
The word is a verb which has been taken from something Americans still do, but which we have no good (accurate) word for….the Dutch snoepen, “to eat sweets secretively.”
Oh, yeh! I’ve done this before too. Eating sweets secretively is sometimes the only way in a large family. My older brother used to do it by getting the bakery buys that were intended for all our school lunches and then he’d stuff the wrappers down between the wall and our little brother’s bed. My sister would secretly rifle the food supply and when she found anything in the freezer section of the refrigerator I’d put there for storing (small piece of candy) she’d eat it. I’ve heard of kids that lick and spit all over their treats so their siblings wouldn’t be attracted to the items. Did I? I’m not telling!
Snoop came from a Dutch word
Back to the Dutch word for snoop which is Snoepen. Snoepen came to mean the prying and spying that the Dutch did on their neighbors in early New York, and their word passed into our English as ‘snoop’ in the late 18th century.
There you have it! Have any snoops in your life? I’ll bet your kids ‘snoepen’ or ‘snoop’ around Christmas time! Love to read about your favorite snoop story…leave a comment!
Definition from the Henry Holt Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson
Great post! Informative too because I had no idea the origin of the word snoop.
I have started employing the car talks with my 12 yr. old daughter and agree with you that it works well. I don’t need to worry about the whole FB thing yet; but appreciate your tips. I enjoy learning from Moms who’ve gone down roads before me and help me avoid some pitfalls. Thanks Donna.
Linda Kinsman recently posted..Simple Truths The Dash
Hi, Linda,
Our daughter at 12 was just beginning to clam up. The kids always loved to chatter on and on in the car and then bam! she’s a non-talker. We also had a son that never stopped talking. He’d come home from going out with the guys or dating a girl and he’d sit on the edge of our bed in the dark (we were trying to sleep). He’d talk for about 20 minutes and then get up and go to bed. Definitely unusual! Another son never wanted to talk, so I’d track him down and just start talking with him.
I read all kinds of books about what to do with tweens and teens and found the ‘car talks’ were superior to all the other advice! Thanks for stopping by!
Ha ha guilty here! I snoop on my daughter’s FB but lucky for me, she just stays at home all day and doesn’t go out with her friends at all! On the other hand though, there’s my son who I’ve seen a few pictures with different girls. When I ask him if he’s interested in anyone he just blows it off and acts uninterested. Now that makes me wonder…
Hi, Diana,
I really believe every parent with a kid on FB should have access to their page. I know, sometimes it can be a hard sell for teens wanting privacy. But how private is FB anyway?
Your teen boy sounds typical. Parents are really doing good if they can unbutton those tight lips about girls!
This is really good Donna. I can remember doing some snooping with my siblings. I always enjoy reading your blog Donna, so refreshing, inspiring and informative. I have learned allot from you on where sayings come from and other definitions and it has been an eye opener to me never thinking about some of the sayings and where they originated from. Donna, you are the one who does all the studying and searching and we get to enjoy all of the insights and benefits of your studying.
Thank You Donna,
Rallene
Hey, Rallene! You did it!
So glad you’re enjoying my blogs. Nice to know they’re being read and enjoyed. I’ll have to do a posting of your missions trip to Guatemala. How about I interview you?
Well, my guys are so little that snooping isn’t needed yet! When I taught, I did snoop on students – often on facebook. I found one girl had basically written a suicide note and I was able to alert the principal so action could be taken (I had moved away and couldn’t do anything myself). I know that my mom read my diaries when I was growing up. I sort of resent that even now. We had a great relationship and talked a ton. I didn’t (and still don’t) think she needed to do that.
Audra recently posted..Money Minute: A Bazillion Ways to Save With Vinegar
Audra,
Sometimes we have the best of intentions. We want to protect them from any perceived hurt or threat. Sometimes the threat is real…sometimes it’s just imagined.
I’m glad you followed through on the suicide note.
Sorry about what happened with your mom. My daughter and I have talked all of that through and now she’s dealing with a non-talker in her family. Maybe she’ll handle it better than I did knowing how she felt and I felt.
DonnaPerugini recently posted..Are You a Snoop? Well, It Depends. Define Snoop.
You always have the most interesting posts, Donna! Thanks for sharing this, and thanks so much for your sweet words on my blog. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Well look at that, Lisa! You won again! Congratulations and the weekend has been wonderful.