Different families reward different kinds of behavior. We like to think that we never reward temper tantrums or whining or badgering, for example. We do like to reward attitudes like patience and perseverance.
Our weak spot, though, is cleverness. Show your dad or me a surprising amount of wit or reasoning and we cave, just like that.
At Sea World, for example, we had driven for about two hours, gone by the hotel and had just seen the dolphins and the aquarium and we knew that you and your sister (and Mrs. Ford) needed something to eat and drink. We were walking to the bakery by way of the gift shop and you saw some cups. You were thirsty and all of your cups at home have water or juice or milk in them, so you picked a cup and started trying to take a drink. "Juice? Juice?" you called.
Under any other circumstances, I would have made you put the cup back. It was empty first of all and we were on our way to get food and drink. Secondly, I knew I would be buying you a souvenir and honestly, you are close enough to outgrowing sippy cups that I have no desire to buy you any more.
But Mr. Ford was there when you grabbed the cup and he immediately called out, "Take a look at which cup he picked."
So I looked. Your dad looked. And then, three dollars and eighty-eight cents later, you got to keep that cup, which your dad filled up with water right then.
My smart boy.Love,
Mom
What great pattern recognition!
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