One of the best things about learning to be a better parent is there is always opportunities to teach your children how to be more responsible. Of course, sometimes those opportunities come from watching other parents with their kids.
Our 5 year old has started taking swim lessons at a local high school. The lessons are taught by students on the swim team as a fundraiser for the swim program. One of the other ways they raise money is by selling donuts, pop, and snacks afterwards at a table just outside the pool area. You really can't leave without walking by this table with everything laid out in the most tantalizing fashion. Can you see where this is going? :)
From a marketing perspective, it's a brilliant move by the swim program. What kid could possibly walk by that table and not want something as they leave? So on a recent Saturday morning, Brenda was waiting for Dallas and I to finish in the locker room and had the most wonderful opportunity to watch how the kids AND the parents handled the situation. Mostly badly. There was crying, whining, and "selective muscular paralysis" as Dr. Charlles Fay puts it. Now while amusing, it's important not to get on your high horse and say "Ha. Look at what a poor job these parents are doing." We've all been there and even the best kids have off days. The key is to use that opportunity when it shows up.
So when we came out, Dallas asked if he could have a donut. The conversation went something like this, "Sorry honey, we don't have a dollar right now to buy a donut. You're more than welcome to buy one with your own money ... You don't have a dollar either? Oh that's too bad. Well, I suppose I could go to the bank and loan you a $1.00 but then you would have to pay me back $1.25. That's called interest and is how the banks make their money. Does that sound good? No? Well, we could home and you could get money from your piggy bank and we could take you to Sunrize Donuts. Their donuts are probably better and less money anyway. It might use up all your money but you could earn more doing jobs around the house that the rest of us don't want to do. Will that work?"
Sure enough it did. So we went home, counted money, went to the donut shop and he picked out and paid for his very own donut, to the endless amusement of the server. That was the best donut he ever tasted. The best part? Now he's asking if there's any jobs he can do and get paid for. At 5 years of age he is learning the cause and effect of wanting something, saving, and working for it. How many adults do you know that you wish had that understanding?
So look for those opportunities, they are always coming around. If you want to learn more about Parenting the Love and Logic Way™, check out www.loveandlogic.com
