My kids are probably already going to need therapy so I figure that I might as well make it interesting for the therapist. Here’s an example:
Child: Do I really have to eat my vegetables in order to get dessert? I don’t like peas.
Me: What is it that you don’t like about them?
Child: Everything.
(I look at the child’s plate to study the peas carefully.)
Me: I see what you mean. They do sort of look like tiny, shriveled martian eyeballs.
The odd part is that the kid now eats peas without complaining. He’s also learned that stuffed peppers are not really stewed monkey heads, but he eats them anyway.
Sounds like a classic win-win-win situation for everybody.
Win #1: I got the kid to eat his food.
Win #2 : Kid thinks he’s getting something extraordinary and exciting that he can tell his friends about at school.
Win #3: Therapist will die laughing one day and look forward to appointments with my son.
I think I may write a book on parenting...
ROFLMAO! I know that feeling. I took my youngest to her new therapist (she's mentally challenged). I was filling out the questionaire.... 1) Do you hear voices (yes all the time) 2) Do these voices tell you to hurt others (yes, all the time). Now keep in mind I didn't write all these answers down for my daughter.
ReplyDeleteThe therapist asked me what I did for a living. I responded that I was a writer. She nodded her head sagely, "Ah, that explains it."
That is great! When they ask me if the voices tell me to hurt people I like to answer "It depends upon who we're talking about."
DeleteAmy this is fabulous motivational interviewing technique. Rolling with resistance.....congruency, client-centeredness, affirmation, and reflection. May I pirate for class examples? I will be sure to credit your blog.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Are you teaching college or a training course?
DeleteLove that! When my oldest was 4 or 5 we told him that if he picked his nose his face would cave in & we had no nose picking at all. Horrible (and I'm sure emotionally scaring) but effective.
ReplyDeleteAbsolute genius!
ReplyDeleteThat's totally the way to do it! What kid wouldn't want to eat tiny, green martian eye balls??? Great post! ~ Jess
ReplyDeletehttp://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Jess!
DeleteThis is awesome. I swear parenting is such a mysterious undertaking sometimes. Some days I have no idea what I signed up for. ;)
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
You and me both, Wendy! Never a dull moment in parenting...
Delete