Saturday, March 14, 2009

As the world changes, so does my approach

Ok, now Elijah is almost 5 and has hit this chatterbox phase. He asks 50 questions a minute. "Daddy, the world has changed." "Yes son, it has." "Why has the world changed dad?" "Because the sun went up and down." 
Gone are the days (yesterday) when I though I could dig deep in my soul for every question he asks me. Now I am rattling off random answers and keeping it moving. I know. So disappointing. I'm over it already.
And another thing: he is obsessed with making everything a race. "Daddy, I finished my pasta before you, I win!" "Daddy, I beat you to the corner!" At first I supported his winning attitude. Then it got tired. "Elijah, were eating dinner, it's not a race." Then I impressed upon him "Son, you compete against yourself. If you win, it's because you beat your personal best, you understand? Nobody in this house is a loser: not your brother or your parents, understand?"   silence..... "Elijah, I said: do you understand? There are no losers in this house!" (silently nodding his head) "Yes there is", "What did you say?",  "Yes there is, you and mommy are losers, ha ha ha..."  
Well, that was the last time I let him win a race to the corner. I ran past him and got 50 feet ahead and as his laughing trot turned into a sad cry for me to slow down to let him catch up. I grinned and turned to run faster. No more kid gloves. He got to learn. Don't gloat to someone 3 times your size.