If you’ve ever worked with children on any level, you probably know that much of it is a trial-and-error game. As in, I have to try everything in my mommy toolbox and hope your tool fits. My tool usually comes out as some kind of competition to get my kids to do what I want. I pretend it’s great fun (“Betcha can’t beat me to the shower!!” in a singsong voice) and they buy into my game. At what point do the rules of the game change?
My daughter helped me in the garden Saturday morning. We had a lot of housekeeping to do out there since I’ve pretty much neglected all the plants since school started. God frowned as I wasted all the bounty he’s been giving us lately. I had to throw out most of the tomatoes and many of the greens because I’ve just not been vigilant about picking the ripe ones. We also planted a nice area of greens for fall, which will be delicious in a few weeks. In a rare moment of liking me again, my daughter helped me out there. When we finished, we were stanky. That is not a typo, folks. We were far beyond the normal stink. I insisted that we both needed to take a shower. Anathema!!! She had already taken a shower last night and was clearly not interested in doing so again so soon.
To motivate her to wash that stank off, I threatened to race her. She informed me that she was too old for that game. Ohhh…..them’s fighting words with mama. No worries. I just kept putting our dirty clothes in the hamper and then started to run up the stairs in an exaggeration of my normal run. As my feet stomped, the temptation to beat me was just too much. My daughter ran as fast as she could and got in the shower. It gave me a good laugh because it meant that no matter what she says, my daughter is still her same old sweet self. Everything in my mommy toolbox still works — at least, for now.
What has remained unchanged over the years with your kids?
Enjoyed your story and am glad you can still enjoy a healthy competitive spirit with your daughter. I have a great relationship with my kids too and what has never changed is our ease in discussing and humor with one another has not changed with one another. My kids are now in their 30s but they are not timid about playing fun jokes on me and see what my response will be.
Cute tale, my Pop used to play games like that right up until I moved out of the house….Sometimes I played along just because I knew it meant that much to him to still have his little girl.
LOL, what a cute story! My parents still worry over me like I’m still two… 🙂 And sometimes, I humor them.
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Oh that’s an awesome story! I’m so glad that worked. My boys gave up that trick about a year ago. I’m sad. I miss using the “race you” trick. That tool has been dulled. Sadly.
I remember some of those things from my childhood and then some I used with my own kids.
My son is now my man-child, but he is still happy when I make him a treat 🙂
So cute! So glad it worked out!
Great story. I enjoyed reading and I’m glad it worked out!
This is really a nice story I enjoyed it thank u
Your story made me smile 🙂 My oldest son is 12 ans is puberty is closing in. I love it when glimpses of my sweet little boy show through!
That was great. Isn’t it fun to know that you are doing it right!
Aww, what a lovely story!! I actually remember my parents doing the same to me (though I didn’t recognize it at the time, of course!).