During my journey as a mother (I'm not sure I'll ever actually arrive to be honest, but does anyone?), I have heard myself say things that I had sort of hoped I wouldn't. The old favourite "you should know better" (to a 2 and 4 year old is a bit ridiculous) and the stalwart "I'm not going to tell you again.." which is the most pointless phrase in the history of pointless phrases, since a smart child (such as Eliza) will just say "ok then" and continue doing whatever she was doing with no threat of being told not to. Pointless.
This morning however, whilst they were eating porridge Eliza declared she didn't like porridge with milk on it, "silly Mummy". And before I'd even thought about what I was saying the age old words came out of my mouth.
"There are children in other parts of the world who don't have very much to eat at all and would be very grateful for your porridge, with or without milk, so eat it up please."
"But Mummy, they might like milk on their porridge but I don't."
"Please just eat it Eliza."
"But I don't LIKE IT!" I looked at her and she was struggling not to cry, her chin was wobbling in the way it does lately when she's trying to be brave. I had no idea this exchange would have upset her so much. But then I thought that when you're 4 all you know is what you have, so I sat down next to her and had a bit of a chat about the fact that not everyone has a nice breakfast made for them by their mother (clearly 'nice' is subjective depending on your views on porridge). In a gentle, nice way. She then ate her porridge without complaint, which was frankly amazing.
Anyway, this afternoon we have been roasting chestnuts on the fire. During the course of lighting the fire Eliza and him indoors were having a chat about changing one's mind (she's keen on this concept lately).
"Daddy I think I've changed my mind about chestnuts."
"Really? You don't want to roast them anymore?" (slightly crestfallen since he'd lit the fire especially.)
"No. I've changed my mind, I want to roast squirrels."
Fortunately he didn't then go into the garden and wrestle one to the ground and throw it on the fire, he explained that perhaps chestnuts would be a better idea. She seemed to agree.
This morning however, whilst they were eating porridge Eliza declared she didn't like porridge with milk on it, "silly Mummy". And before I'd even thought about what I was saying the age old words came out of my mouth.
"There are children in other parts of the world who don't have very much to eat at all and would be very grateful for your porridge, with or without milk, so eat it up please."
"But Mummy, they might like milk on their porridge but I don't."
"Please just eat it Eliza."
"But I don't LIKE IT!" I looked at her and she was struggling not to cry, her chin was wobbling in the way it does lately when she's trying to be brave. I had no idea this exchange would have upset her so much. But then I thought that when you're 4 all you know is what you have, so I sat down next to her and had a bit of a chat about the fact that not everyone has a nice breakfast made for them by their mother (clearly 'nice' is subjective depending on your views on porridge). In a gentle, nice way. She then ate her porridge without complaint, which was frankly amazing.
Anyway, this afternoon we have been roasting chestnuts on the fire. During the course of lighting the fire Eliza and him indoors were having a chat about changing one's mind (she's keen on this concept lately).
"Daddy I think I've changed my mind about chestnuts."
"Really? You don't want to roast them anymore?" (slightly crestfallen since he'd lit the fire especially.)
"No. I've changed my mind, I want to roast squirrels."
Fortunately he didn't then go into the garden and wrestle one to the ground and throw it on the fire, he explained that perhaps chestnuts would be a better idea. She seemed to agree.
Ok the squirrel thing had me laughing out loud! Happy Holidays as we say over here.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the time when she will NOT be persuaded AT ALL!
ReplyDeleteLove the squirrel idea...!
ReplyDeletebrilliant post as always!!
ReplyDeleteHilarious! I love the things they say, and yours do come out with some crackers.
ReplyDelete(My boss doesn't say many wise things in her capacity as headteacher of a primary school, however she did recently come out with the very valid point that we needed to listen to every minor upset from children because to them it's the biggest thing in the world. Very difficult to put into practise though, but I've been trying harder)