Thursday while crazy late - due to of all things folding laundry and losing the track of time, it was a rush to get to school and me to a meeting. I looked at my little girl - mid tantrum, about wanting to play- and realized ARGH!! I am going to have to deal with this, get to work, not be late and ... sigh, going to have to make her calm so she has a good day.
After 10 minutes of tears ( she really just wanted to stay home and play barbies with mom) off we go, though not completely happy and with a big pout on. As we walk past McDonald's - about 3 minutes from our destination. I stop the wagon ( this makes for a 15 minute walk versus a 30 minute dawdle to daycare in the morning. This is the only part of my day I wish I drove), look at her and say the following.:
You know, you are very lucky to even be able to go to school. She sits up straight and looks at me ( imitating the tilted head of my childhood listening pose to perfection) and says why? As serious as could possibly be. ( I have no idea where my brain went at this point) I look a her and say, because around the world not all little girls get to go to school, and as a Canadian girl it is your job to learn as best as you can, so you can help other little girls in the world. (WTF???? who says this stuff!)
Considering what I have just said, in all the seriousness to my 4 year old ( almost 5 ) child looks at me and says how can I do that?
I answer, well because you are a girl you can change the world -- and she says no I am too small. I look her in the eyes with a big smile on her face and say " by going to school and learning all that you can, then when you are big enough you can go help build schools for other little girls around the world". Wow, I can ? And as we arrive happily at daycare, she looks at me and says "I am lucky to go to school!"
I kid you not, my brief break in reality ( who says this stuff to a kid) - and placing the weight of Global educational issues on the shoulders of my 4.5 year old made her happy. She had a fantastic day, and was excited for school today.
So there you go a brief moment in my insanity of being a mom..
3 comments:
That's so great. Sometimes as moms we feel like it's our job to eliminate whatever it is that's making our kids throw their tantrums so they'll stop. But sometimes what they actually need is to be given a little more responsibility. Nice work!!
i love the way you talk to your daughter with such respect and honesty!
Thanks ladies, I do believe in giving her as much information as her brain can accomdate, and I believe treating her with respect has lead to some really great characteristics - it is either going to back fire on me, or she will enter the world as a girl with confidence, empathy and a passion for humanity - fingers crossed!
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