June 26, 2011

A Boy of Gentle Spirit

We offer the kids many small choices throughout the day, in the grand tradition of Love & Logic and oodles of other similar parenting approaches. "Buddy, do you want to leave the playground in five minutes or in three minutes?" "Would you like to brush your teeth first or put on your jammies first?"

Eddie now has five years under his belt of hearing such statements. And clearly the technique has sunk in, though perhaps not the principles behind it. The other day while in the kitchen I overheard him calmly explain, "Mari, these are your choices. Do you want to give me your balloon or get hit in the face?"

(She gave him the balloon.)

17 comments:

luna said...

love this! I mean, as a reader of the "love & logic" series. not because he offered to harm his sister...

Heather said...

@luna - Yes, well. He may have (temporarily) gotten the balloon. But he also got a little introduction to the concept of coercion and why it's not okay, courtesy of me!

KatjaMichelle said...

I shouldn't be laughing. I shouldn't and yet I am. I am laughing so freaking hard. How do you keep a straight face?

Andy said...

That is priceless!!!

harriet glynn said...

Guffaw!

Cat's Litterbox said...

That is GREAT!!! Hilarious!! I love Love & Logic! I used it in my elementary classroom, and then read Parenting with Love and Logic a few months ago and can't wait to use it with Gus (he's 13 months).

Kids are so funny!! Thanks for the laugh!! :)

Hilary said...

Love that book, love his application even more!

It Is What It Is said...

Priceless, priceless, priceless!

Elly said...

He's also displaying that he has learned to use words as a first resort.

> one of my friends commented yesterday that keeping a straight face is the biggest challenge of parenting.

Kelly said...

There are moments in being a parent that crack you up. This had to be one of them. I love it.

JC said...

That is awesome. Way to go Eddie, and good choice Mari! LOL

KLTTX said...

Love this! That's what big brothers are for.

susiebook said...

Too funny. Poor Mari!

Claudia said...

This is hilarious. Love it!

Anonymous said...

Hahaha! I needed a laugh tonight! :)

Frenchie said...

Actual LOL.

Anonymous said...

We love "love and logic!" I don't think my kids have caught on yet though.

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