Wednesday I really chose to pick my battles. Sweet Potato had yet another Doctor appointment. Yippie we get to go to the ENT weeeeeeeeee!!! This was supposed to be a routine check up a just to make sure nothing is infected and her ears are clear of thick nasty fluid. NOT!
Before we went the kids were reenacting songs from the Broadway Musical Cats. Little Miss Sunshine made cat tails "Like we did in China mom!." Sweet Potato really does an excellent job of acting cat like. She can really emote feline. So were 20 minutes to take off (leaving for the doctor) and the child is still in cat outfit. I ask myself; is it modest? check Do I care that she is wearing a tail? nope Should I make her go out in public dressed properly? NAAAAAA. I went out to my garden and checked on my peas and there were little leaves sprouting yeah!
I came back in unaware that in those few minutes Daddy picked that battle. And since she is a well trained child she said "Yes Dad" and took off her tail... But sad to say her heart wasn't in the right place after that. She used her actions to show her resentment.
13 minutes later I'm doing the last call shoes purses lets go to the ENT yippie! (they always have stickers and lollipops.) Can you believe it Sweet potato is changing her outfit... OH NO! this will take Forever (say it with a valley girl accent for proper effect). Yup we were late to the Doctor and had to wait extra long. Daddy was not a happy camper as we waved good bye 10 minutes later.
I took a longer view... its not my appointment its hers if she wanted to be on time she would have been. She is very smart when it comes to things like this. But what I do know is Dad + Late = Disrespect. Then it all comes out at dinner. She was mad and wanted everyone else to be mad too. So the whole I have to Change 2 minutes before we have to leave was so on purpose! Why?? because she couldn't wear the tail... Oh the Drama of it all *giggle* I just want you to all know I totally deserve and love this child :-)
This was an excellent opportunity to use a redo, ask for a compromise, and talk about why we use our words not our actions to tell how we feel. Not a day I'd say we as parents "won" but a good day in practicing the pieces. As a step in our journey I'd say one of us stumbled and the other caught them. Marriage should be like that :-) Next time It will be my turn to fall down.
No comments:
Post a Comment