The Counting Game

I took my boys to the fun little play area in the mall a few weeks ago. It's always funny going there and hearing other parents talk to their kids. 

Joey, stop running.

Samantha, you come back here now! One, two, three, four, five...

Parents, what is it about the whole counting game!? That's exactly what it is... A big game. You're kids are owning you. Ok, before I get a bunch of moms and dads messaging me about this, let me clarify. When you count like this.. one..... Liam come here... two... hurry up.... and never get to three, your kids are now the boss. They now know they they don't have to listen to you. Or parents continue counting! One, two, three, four, five.... For the love, how long are you going to count! Ten? Twenty?

I know I do it too. I sit on the couch, while nursing Levi, and count. When I realize that Liam isn't listening, I have two choices. I can remain on the couch and watch him disobey or I can stand up, with my other child attached, and correct Liam. It's the only way Liam will realize that counting actually means something. 

Joel's uncle counts and his kids know what it means. The second he gets to one, the kids are running. 

I think this whole counting game has become one of my new pet peeves. I heard it again yesterday. I watched the dad count, not once, not twice, but FIVE times. His child STILL didn't listen. Sure he looked serious while he was counting, but his son laughed at him. 

I've had those moments. I get mad at Liam, yell (like any great mom would) and Liam laughs at me. I usually get so mad I either laugh or have to walk into the other room. 

Parenting is hard. It's exhausting, but if we don't follow through our kids will never learn. 

I got great parenting advice from a friend while I was pregnant with Liam. If you're not willing or able to correct your child in the moment, don't say anything. I don't think I really understood this until I had Levi and Liam turned two. There are times that you see your child doing something messy, loud, or just plain annoying and you really do have to sit and think is this a battle worth fighting?

My favorite example of this was last year. Our family all got this cold from hell. A cold can't be that bad you might be thinking, but oh let me tell you... I thought I was going to die. It went on for a month, went to someone else, and then you got it again. I remember Joel and I sitting on the couch. I was on my second time around and Joel had just gotten it. We were both laying on the couch in agony while Liam played on the ground. 

There are no sick days when you have kids. 

Liam found a wrapper full of saltines. I had just opened it to grab a few, seeing as that was all I was able to eat. Liam then proceeded to hit the ground with the wrapper repeatedly as saltines flew all over the carpet. I looked at him and realized it was keeping him busy and would continue to do so for a while. Joel saw this and immediately grabbed the wrapper and went to get the vacuum. I began explaining to him the benefit of this mess. It took everything in him to sit back down and watch our cute little child make the mess of his life. However, he made the mess and then came and cuddled mommy and we took a long family nap. Granted when I woke up I had a huge mess to clean up, but it was worth it. 

So parents, if you're going to count, please either teach your kid you mean business or please do us all a favor and don't count!