My three-year-old son is an interesting creature. While his older sister was demanding to do things on her own at an early age, he prefers to have things done for him. When he asks you to help, what he really means is, "Please do it FOR me." I'm certain that, given the choice, he would allow me to spoon-feed him at three. He's perfectly content having people do things FOR him, rather than doing things on his own...the issues here are for another blog.
This morning, on the way to preschool, my three-year-old son was asking his five-year-old sister for help. She, sick of helping him all the time, replied quite dramatically:
"Aidan, I've been helping you for YEARS. I help you with the water. I help you with the lights. I help you with your seatbelt. I even play with you when I don't want to. Figure it out on your OWN."
My five-year-old daughter (5 pushing 30) is quite an interesting girl herself. When she was two, her favorite phrase was, "Weeeeeel, aaaaaaaaaactually..." The daycare workers at the gym always got a chuckle at her because they said she didn't speak like other kids her age.
Yesterday, we were well in the middle of our naptime negotations. She'd been up and down several times and she interrupted me working for the umpteenth time asking for a "mooch and a hug." I explained that I was working, but I'd give her a mooch and a hug AFTER her nap. She held her ground, crossed her arms and threatened,
"I'll just keep bugging you until you give me a mooch and a hug."
Where does she LEARN this stuff??? Oh, wait. From ME. So all those times I thought she wasn't listening, wasn't paying attention, could've cared less - turns out she WAS listening more than I could've ever imagned.
Well, lesson learned. Be mindful of my words and my actions, because my children are learning from me (Eeee gads).
Excellent idea!
ReplyDelete“A merry heart does good, like medicine” Proverbs 17:22a
Which reminds me; There was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything. So . . . Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly....... Leave the rest to God