Dec 14 2008
Sometimes the squeaky wheel doesn’t get the wheel…
Have you ever had the kind of day when it seems all you hear is “Mom can I”, “I want”, “I need”? Sometimes it’s enough to drive you insane. The kids all want something, need something right then, cannot wait the five minutes it takes you to go to the bathroom. I have a cure all for that. For the constant asking, even after you have said “wait a minute”.
I pick the child who asked me once, and then waited. That’s right, I ignore the ones who peppered me with the whining, and their begging. I don’t do well with that kind of thing. The child who sat quietly, or even semi quietly and didn’t repeat the request over and over is the one who gets my attention at that moment.
I do the same with my animals. When I have the cat meowing and the bird chirping like crazy, whichever one quiets down when told, is the one I get to first. With the kids gone for the weekend, my animals have taken to doing the same things they have. Right now, because my conure quieted down, she is the one sitting on my shoulder, getting the attention.
It’s simply a matter of common courtesy. Another lesson to teach your children. Politeness will eventually get them everywhere. Rudeness will not. Sometimes it works, other days it feels as if no one is listening. However, if we hammer and hammer this advice in, at some point, they will all understand, and if not, well they will be waiting for that extra snack a long long time.
