Most days I wonder if anything I say is getting through to David. Usually I talk, and his eyes glaze over.
But today– proof that some things sink in.
We ate lunch at one of those western-themed steakhouses that give you big buckets of peanuts to snack on. David loves to crack open the shells, and fill up on the contents so he’s not hungry when his food arrives.
He was scarfing down peanuts, and neatly collecting the shells on a napkin.
“David, you know you’re supposed to just throw those on the floor here.”
His head snapped up from the kiddie menu he was studying, and he looked at me incredulously. “What?”
“The peanut shells. You don’t have to do that. You can just throw them on the floor.”
“Huh?” With a confused look on his face he looked down at the worn wooden floorboards.
Silence.
*
*
*
*
*
David looked up. “Throw them on the floor?” he asked suspiciously like he thought I was trying to trick him.
“Yeah. It’s OK. You can do that here. See?” and I tossed a shell down.
When I did that I saw something flicker in David’s eyes. That flicker was the realization that the truth he’d based his entire life on had just been irrevocably altered.
Think about it.
Here was his mother who is always telling him, “Don’t spill that! Don’t get cookies crumbs everywhere! Take you shoes off when you walk on the carpet! Wash your hands! CLEAN YOUR ROOM!” throwing what was essentially trash on the floor. And she was saying it was OK.
With disbelief still registering on his face David gingerly picked up one peanut shell. Slowly he placed his hand down at his side, let go of the shell and it fell to the floor with a plink. He kept looking at me the entire time, half waiting for me to freak out and reprimand him for making a mess.
But no reprimand came, and soon he was tossing peanut shells over his shoulder and left and right like a pro.
I guess David was listening to me all along. And here I thought I was wasting my breath. Beating my head against a wall.
So to all you moms out there who keep wondering, “Does it even matter if I repeat this again for the 557th time?”
Yes.
Yes it does.
That 557th time might one be the one time they actually pay attention.
You just never know.
Until you tell them to throw peanut shells on the floor.
Have you even been shocked to discover that your kids actually listened to something you told them?
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I kept waiting for you to put a line about the restaurant changing their policy and not allowing that anymore, cause that would totally happen to me!
And my son is 3. He never listens, unless of course he happens to hear me say the words “butt” or “shut up”, then he’s all ears!
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Thanks for the laugh, so cute!
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Hubby says I don’t listen to him. LOL Happy Friday Follow – Rita @ http://one2try.blogspot.com/
That was cute! I know he was thinking that was kinda weird. I felt the same way when I first went to one of those restaurants. I just would hate to be the one that has to sweep the restaurant at the end of the day! 🙂
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http://www.middayescapades.com
Lol, great post 😀
Stopping by from FF and following your blog. Have a great weekend!
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Sure – I hear them repeat me all the time to each other and to their dolls. Just not actually acting on what I have taught them – so I know they are listening….
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misadventuresofmomof3.me
My boys were the same way. Of course, the teenagers are totally appalled when I do it, but the little guys were just like yours, suspicious and then set free! LOL I’ve learned that if I throw in a dollar amount, that glaze disappears and they pay closer attention – I then laugh and just say, “Checking to see if your listening.” Then they get a disgruntled look on their faces:)At least one of us is smiling then.
That is funny! Poor thing, bet he was confused!
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Have a great weekend,
~Shelley
ahh…thanks for your comments! one of them especially means ALOT. thank you!
now on to your post. after being a preschool teacher for umpteen years (ok not that many, but you get the idea), i would always have the mom come to me time and time again and ask, “are you SURE he/she is doing ok? are they really listening and being good?” my response was, “yes! be proud that this is how they act in public. you have done great! at home they can let the hair down and test boundaries so that out in public they will know how to act.” so…that being said…good job! you are doing great. wish i could take a bit of my own advice, though. haha!
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Have a nice week.
OMG How funny! I think we only have one restaurant in town where we can do that and I love it!
I am now following from Friday Follow 🙂
Hey you! I am a new follower from FF, please come by and follow me back as well. I just love meeting new bloggers. I am trying to make my way through the entire FF list, which is a lot of work, but I know we will follow each other back and meet so many amazing women and possibly new friends! I hope that you had a great weekend! Juliana~A Blonde Walks Into A Blog!