Today’s daily moment is brought to you by frustration, kids that would rather play than listen, and creativity.
The scene: Sunday afternoon. We’ve had a lazy morning with tablet time on the couch under all the blankets. But now it’s time to go. No one is putting on their shoes. No one wants to move. My husband hates to be late and he’s tired of yelling.
He grabbed one of the kids’ tablets and started playing a game. He made sure the volume was up for maximum sound effects. Of course, being screen-addicted little people, their ears immediately perk up to the sound of video games and they fall over each other to rush to his side to watch.
Nope- Daddy is too tall- he holds the tablet up and continues to play. In a calm and quiet voice, he tells the kids, “Nope, you can’t see which game I’m playing until your shoes are on and you are ready to go.”
The suspense is killing them. They can’t handle someone playing a game without being allowed to watch. Suddenly they are in motion, shoes on, bags in hand, rushing back to his side to see the glowing screen. My son made it there first, and to my surprise, he didn’t gloat about it. His eyes glued to the game, he heard his little sister start to freak out in frustration that they were playing HER tablet without her. Without looking up, he encouraged her to hurry up and put on her shoes so she can join them,and if she was fast enough she’d make it there before the loading screen for the level was finished.
Next-level parenting for the win. Ha!
