Tuesday, November 27, 2007

A or B

I am convinced that parenting is the biggest game of Multiple Choice you will ever play.

Experts tell you to give your children choices as they grow so they can begin to experience some independence and learn to make their own decisions. They say limit their choices to within your parameters so you can remain in control while giving them a sense of freedom.

That's all fine and dandy, but sometimes I feel like my days are completely made up of A+B=C equations. For example:

  • Me: Benen you can either sleep in your pajamas or your underwear and shirt. It's your choice. Either pick out some pajamas or sleep in your shirt and underwear.

    Benen: Ummm.....I wanna sleep naked.

  • Chad: Benen, these are your choices. You can have an apple, a banana or nothing. What do you want?

    Benen: Alright. I'll have a pear.

You see the problem? I give them choices. I set the boundaries. They keep thinking outside the box.

I keep getting suckered.

But they make me smile. Benen, while standing at the bathroom sink - "Get ready for the awesome power of Benen!"

9 comments:

Barefoot Sarah said...

Perfect. Absolutely perfect. I can't wait to see my boys again!!

Jenster said...

I love your kids! They totally crack me up!!!

Becky said...

That's hilarious! Aren't kids awesome?! Go Benen!

That's one thing I love about being a mom to boys, seeing how they always think of themselves in heroic, powerful terms...psyching themselves up for the real deal one day as grown men. Sooo cute!

Anonymous said...

At our house, A+B=11. LOL

Beware the powers of Benen! :o)

Jenster said...

That's one thing I love about being a mom to boys, seeing how they always think of themselves in heroic, powerful terms...psyching themselves up for the real deal one day as grown men. Sooo cute!

When Taylor was about 7 or 8 he was doing that muscle flexing thing in front of the mirror and he did this one really silly flex. I said, "That makes you look like a freak." (Not a nice mom thing to say, I know. But you had to be there.) And he smiled and said, "Yeah. A freak of nature."

Alright. Apparently you had to be there for the whole thing because the written version does not do it justice. At all!

Travis Erwin said...

I can realte. My oldest will consider his choices and pick one. The youngest will always invent his own option.

Katybug said...

WHAT A HOOT!!! Don't feel alone...it's not just boys! My daughter does the same thing...drives me BONKERS!!!

The Middle Child said...

My son refuses to make decisions, every question is met with "I don't know" from him, even when simply asking him if he wants grilled cheese for lunch.

He used to have an opinion on EVERYTHING, which I'm sure he will again one day, but right now he's in a I-WANT-TO-MAKE-YOUR-LIFE-DIFFICULT stage. At least, I hope it's just a stage.

Barb said...

This is another reason why middle-aged moms often look older than their middle-aged husbands....