Put That Back Where It Came From Or So Help Me God

A BRIEF PERSPECTIVE ON THREATS UTTERED BY BROOKLYN, NEW YORK HOUSEWIVES TO THEIR CHILDREN

Invoking the Lord's name in myriad ways. Perhaps to these pious women, it was a way to convey the very Fear of God with their own utterances.

Worse, the threats following the above phrase were demonic, horrible punishments including cutting off of hands, punches delivered to particularly sensitive parts of the body, and the old standard, "I'll slap you from here into next week!"

More often than not the punishment was phrased in an indirect way. A description of the result of the punishment, and not the graphic gore of the punishment itself, would be followed with "...when I'm through with you." As in:

"Get your hands off your little brother or so help me God you won't have any more hands when I'm through with you."

These are conscientious,  religious women who normally abhor violence. They give money to places that house and feed stray pets. They're good women. They've been known to say things like, "and she moved out the first time he ever raised a hand to her, thanks Jesus."

All bets are off when it comes to their offspring.

Comedienne and Actress Cheri Oteri has portrayed one of these Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York women in sketches on Saturday Night Live, the popular television program..