People always tell you that kids are like sponges.
What they don't tell you is that they mean kids are like those yellow and green sponges at the store. One side soaks everything up. One side is abrasive and rubs you raw.
My daughter is very bright. I mean, she is not even three and she can count to 12, no problem.
She can sing her ABCs.
She has about ten letters she can point out and name correctly every time.
She knows every character on every show she watches.
She can sing the songs to those same shows.
She knows when those shows are supposed to be on. And she knows we have DVR, so her shows are always on.
She knows how to work an iPhone and a tablet.
She knows how to hide said iPhone and tablet so Mommy and Daddy spend a good 30 minutes looking for them.
She knows how to repeat things you say. Like "Please." "Thank You." "Good Manners."
"That's the rules." "Because I said so." "I'm the mom and you're the kid."
"What the HECK?!?"
"Oh Jesus."
--You know, the basics.
But sometimes, just sometimes, they learn a lesson in how to be a good person. And you feel like you've won for the day. Just 10-15 minutes of your day can be spent with the Halo-glow of a good moment, and that's it. Your day is a success.
That's what happened to me. I had to take the toddler with me to run some errands. While I was driving, I used the Bluetooth to make some calls to my doctor and the ultrasound place I have an appointment at coming up. She proceeded to talk throughout both calls after I asked her to be quiet. I was so frustrated!! I told her I was sad and upset and disappointed. That I had asked her to be quiet while I was on the phone, and she knows that when Mommy or Daddy or anyone really is on the phone we have to be quiet. She didn't say anything to that. Well, except that I hurt her feelings by telling her this. You know, that whole correcting thing. So mean.
We stopped for a quick breakfast. (she wanted a pink donut and I wasn't about to turn down a bowtie one!) When we go to the door, a woman held it open for us. I told her Thank You and we continued to walk inside. My toddler looked at me and said "She's a nice lady. That nice lady opened the door for us."
We ordered and got our donuts and she told the cashier "Thank you for my Pink Donut. I'm weally hungee." Then headed back for the car. This time a man held the door for us. The kiddo looked at me and said "Wow, Mom. So many nice peoples today. They holded the door for us. You know, because our handses are full. Because I got the last Pink Donut." I looked at her and yeah... That felt like a win. I told her "You're right. They are nice people. And we need to remember that. We need to remember to be nice to other people when their hands are full and hold the doors for them."
Later on I picked her up and had to make more phone calls. This time she was quiet the whole time I was on the phone. She talked when it was ringing or when I got put on hold, but she was quiet when there was someone else on the line. After I ended the call, I told her how happy and proud I was of her. She made me so proud by being quiet when I was on the phone.
And her face lit up. She was happy she had made me proud. And it really wasn't a huge deal to be quiet for 3 minutes. I told her I was so happy and proud that I would let her choose dinner. She asked for hot dogs, mac N cheese, and cookies. I told her that was a deal!! Surprised her with 6 M&Ms when we got home. Told her it was because she was so good and I wanted her to know that it meant a lot to me.
Wanna know how I know she got it? She told anyone she talked to about the candy she got "just for waiting." See she gets it!
Well today she gets it
Okay, so more like right then she got it.
Yeah. Kids are definitely sponges! --Just hope she doesn't flip to that abrasive side tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment