Perception

The simplicity of kids is just darn enviable.  Their perception is truly their reality.  They don’t have all those other lenses like adults do that color how we think and feel and give us all those “gray” areas that leave us feeling unfulfilled.  They just live moment by moment and as long as you can make their reality seem like it was just what they wanted, you can be their best friend.

Today, Bauer had to get his second seasonal flu shot and since we were on the Fort Worth side of things we headed over to Central Market for some gelato and outdoor playgrounding.  We stood in line for gelato and Bree was insistent that she would have vanilla.  That’s the only flavor she ever wants.   So we finally were ordering and I asked for a kid’s vanilla cup and the lady looks at me with this quizzical look and says, “We don’t have any vanilla today!”  Luckily Bree is so busy staring at the vast colors of ice cream behind the counter that she didn’t hear what the lady said.  I was baffled…who doesn’t stock up on vanilla…its a staple right??!!!  So I ordered the next best thing…white chocolate.  Deep down in my heart, I knew there was a meltdown on the playground in my future when Bree took the first taste and figured out that she had been “punked”.  But I paid my money and headed out to the warpath regardless.

Bree’s first words after taking her first bite were, “this is my favorite, mommy!”  She then preceded to finish the whole cup.  So it is finally clear…she likes “white” ice cream and that most often happens to be vanilla.  But she’s open to any kind of “white” ice cream.  Good to know.   It was a major victory for mom!

We got home from the big white chocolate adventure and I got to test my own perception and reality…

Do you see a naked baby standing on a desk laughing at his momma….I thought I did, but then I thought to myself, I’ve told this kid how many times to not stand up there, he knows better.  That peptalk made me feel a lot better…

My peptalk ended abruptly when the little naked boy who wasn’t standing on the desk mocking his momma leaned over and turned off the TV from the Direct TV box.  I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t even be able to find the right button of the many on there to actually turn off the tv.  This kid is a genius…I mean really, a genius.  I had to deal with my reality then, by putting him in timeout, turning the tv back on, finding the exact Curious George we had been watching, and moving the desk out in the garage.  I really liked my “this isn’t happening” peptalk a lot better!

The naked boy redeemed himself later in the night when it was bathtime.  We have had a rough last 15 months when it comes to baths.  I start sweating even thinking about having to bathe the kids because Bauer is notorious for trying to sneak out of the tub, screaming if you make him sit down, and generally making me feel like at any point he will fall and crack his head open involving lots of blood in the tub.  I don’t do blood or the threat of it.

But his perception of baths has changed in the last few weeks.  His dad has worked wonders with him.  He sits, smiles (see below), laughes, splashes and doesn’t want to get out ever…even when his fingers are getting pruney!  So my perception of bathtime has also changed…yeah for not being afraid to bathe my own kids.

Hope your perception yielded a positive reality today…if not, try some white chocolate gelato/icecream…it’s Bree’s favorite!

About juco

The Murphy Clan is onto year 4 of this parenting adventure. We are happy to keep sharing some our proudest and silliest moments with all our family and friends. We hope you enjoy our new format!
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