Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Friday Mom – Jaime:
I was in court yesterday doing a marathon morning of mediation sessions. During a break, I was speaking to one of the housing counselors. He’s a good guy, one of the best that we deal with, and he was telling me about how he had gone out of his way to help a client. He really had gone above and beyond, but the woman decided to make him the object of her frustration and used some “magic words” on him. And, while he’ll help anyone, once you say those “magic words” to him, he’s done trying to help you… It cracked me up and shows that we all have our limits, even people who are known for helping everyone.

This post, of course, is about a different variety of magic words.

We try to get Andrew to always say “please” and “thank you.” He’ll ask for stuff and we say no until he remembers that magic please. If he really wants something, he knows that I absolutely cannot resist when he breaks out the “Oh please! P-p-p-p-lease!” But still, he knows how to ask correctly.

Today I walked in to daycare to pick him and all the kids were sitting at a long table coloring. One of the little girls, Maya, looked up and got all excited to see me. “ANDREW’S MOM! Can you draw me hearts?”

I gave her the look. The one I give Andrew when he doesn’t say please and I’m waiting for him to ask me correctly. SHE gave me the look back. The “WELL? AREN’T YOU GOING TO DO THIS FOR ME????” look.

If she were my kid, I would have stood there, hands on my hips, waiting for her to ask me right. But she wasn’t my child… And I caved. I had to draw SEVEN hearts for her. First pink. Then red. Then blue. Then purple…

Then another little girl came over, flung her paper in my face and asked me to draw HER hearts. And a third girl came over. “NO! Draw ME hearts!” Then a fourth. “Is it MY TURN yet?” Maya wanted more hearts for herself.

Finally, Andrew looked up from the pig he was intently coloring, walked to my side and threw his hands up. “EVERYONE! SLOW DOWN! WAIT A MINUTE! Mommy can’t draw hearts for everyone at the same time!”

So they formed a line with their paper and crayons, each little girl asking me to draw different colored hearts for them to color in. And not one of them used the words please or thank you. (Yes, I’m a sucker)

I don’t mind playing with the other kids when I pick up Andrew. I let them tackle me if I’m in the mood. I spin them around. We color together. But still… If you want me to spend 10 minutes sitting there drawing things for you to color in, can’t I get a please or thank you?

PLEASE?

Anyway, happy mother’s day to all you moms out there. And have a great weekend!