Homes of Victory
I caught Moe (aged three) face planting the front of the dishwasher… It looked like he was trying to kiss the stainless steel surface. As I walked past him, just to take a look, he asked in a muffled voice “ Is it a tunnel?“ No darling…
“ Ohhhhhh” a big whinge ensued while I was trying not to laugh out loud.
I need to admit that I have taught my children the word compromise in its full definition. It’s the only way, I can get what I want without them realising… Yes, this has also backfired, as it does with most kids who learn a new word.
Turning up late and in a flurry at kindy to do the usual pick up, I was stopped by Lalee’s beautiful teacher. I feel we have a great relationship and can talk about things that occur . On this particular day, months after my ‘compromise’ technique had been implemented and was working nicely. Miss K began to tell me that she asked the whole class to start packing up the toys ready for story time. Lalee, proceeded to tell her teacher that she thought they should compromise, so she could continue to play for 5 minutes while the others packed up. ( yes , she was very specific about the whole 5 minute thing). Upon being told ‘ no… we all pack up together’. Lalee took things into her own hands. She told the teacher that the ‘ naughty boys’ in her class (who actually listen to her), to clean up her section while she proceeded to go to the other side of the room to continue playing. When she was asked to help, her response was, “ I compromised with the boys, they are packing up while I play.”… I apologise unreservedly for teaching my child the word compromise. It selfishly helps me at home, but works against the whole system outside of my home. Looks like, the next word I’ll teach her, definition and all is team work.
While visiting a friend we decided to take the kids for a walk along a bike path near a creek. We thought they would like running free and exploring the bush.
Moe, decided that it would be much easier to be carried, and whinged and complained until I gave in. No sooner had I picked him up, he did a massive sneeze. Instead of covering his mouth, he turned aside and let out his sneeze. Which I thought was very considerate for a two year old, until… the snot landed on my foot. “Oh! That’s gross. ” I said looking at Moe. He simply replied, “I just blessed you Mummy.”
What else could I say other than thank you…
I grew up in a home where nothing was an emergency unless it really was life or death. Sympathy was one thing that was rarely dished out. So, in learning through the days of motherhood, I’ve come to realise that I too, don’t see many things as an emergency, or dish out sympathy lightly.
My four year old on the other hand, thinks everything is an emergency. So when she screams it from the yard, everyone in the street is alerted to the ‘emergency’. The latest so called emergency was the fact my two year old spilt water over his bike. When Lalee screamed ‘emergency’ I went to her and asked what the emergency was. The response… “ Moe’s bike has water leaking (it was wet from the rain). I think we need to call the bike plumber”.
Every year we celebrate Chinese New Year as my husband and his family are from a Malaysian / Chinese heritage. Upon explaining to Lalee who had just turned 4 why we celebrate Chinese New Year… she asked Why… My response was because Daddy is Chinese, and you and your brother are half Chinese.
“ What about you?” she replied
“ I’m Australian” I said.
After taking some time to think about it… Lalee finally said, “ You can be my half… So, I’ll be half Chinese and so can you”… aww sweetness.
We thought we would add some fun to Homes of Victory this year. At times we can overthink, how we parent, how we are as people and how we can always be just that little bit better.
What sparked this new series called Kid Logic, was a big clean out – yes Marie Kondo style over our summer. During which I found a whole heap of notes and stories I had written down about the kids when they were younger. The smiles it gave me and the laugh out loud moments I captured – need to be shared… why?
So you know that we know parenting is interesting, parenting can be frustrating and parenting is an experience like no other.
For privacy – I’ve called the characters (aka my kids) Lalee, Moe and Sparkie. You’ll see their personalities shine, you’ll relate the them and us, but most of all we hope you enjoy and remember we are living the dream… even if it looks a little different to what we imagined…
Lastly, please share your kidlogic moments with us – we would love to hear all about them.
Homes of Victory