If you have young children, you’re probably familiar with the concept of counting to three to give your child the chance to do something themselves. For example, “Laura, it’s time to pick a story to read for nap time.” “I don’t want to.” “I’m going to count to 3. If you haven’t picked a story, I’ll pick it for you.” This usually results in a glare from the 3 year old. So I say, “ONE.” And she’s off…running to her room to pick a book. Heaven forbid Mommy pick the story! I have yet to get past TWO with Laura. She hasn’t pushed me that far….yet. She will eventually, that is a given. Truth be told, I’ve only gotten to THREE a few times in the eight and a half years that I have been a mother.
The counting tactic still works on Abigail and Hattie, much to my surprise. Abigail is a procrastinator. Especially at bed time. It is not her fault. She inherited the procrastination gene from both sides. When bed time rolls around, she is usually giggly and we are no longer feeling tolerant. She will dance around the living room…or fall on the floor and pretend that she can’t get up…or pretend that she doesn’t hear us…or act like she is “helping” her sisters do something (we know this is an act because her sisters are loud protesters of unwanted “help”). It doesn’t take me long to get to “ONE!” She knows that means business. No more shenanigans. Mom is done.
Hattie’s crime that results in a “ONE” is usually cleaning up. She detests cleaning up. It’s getting better but it still occasionally results in some parental encouragement.
The punishment of getting to THREE isn’t that bad. Usually it involves time out and losing computer time or dessert. Maybe it still works because I don’t use it all the time. Maybe because my tone in the counting game (at least with the older two) is much more serious. I’m not smiling. Like I said, when Mom starts counting, Mom is DONE.
Now, I really should get off the computer and get back to de-germing the house from our battle with the cold and fever bug this weekend. But I don’t want to….but I need to….ONE…TWO…………
PS – I have to give my husband credit for the idea of this blog. I dealt out a “ONE” the other night at bed time and he just looked at me and said “the power of one”. So, thanks honey!
