They stand at my feet.
"I want a green one
no not yellow
I said please Mom!"
"Mama, can I just have an orange one!"
He yanks on my legs.
"I just want one more
and a green one and then three
MOM, you're not listening!"
"I just want one more
and a green one and then three
MOM, you're not listening!"
He snaps, he fusses, he stomps.
He wants wants wants
he's not doing it right
He can't wait for what he wants.
------------
"Child, you need to back up!
ask in your regular voice
not with a whine...
just give me some space!"
------------
"Child, you need to back up!
ask in your regular voice
not with a whine...
just give me some space!"
"I was doing something
I will get it for you
it will be green
and then orange
stop grabbing
I will get it for you
it will be green
and then orange
stop grabbing
stop pulling
don't cry
get off your brother's foot
get off my foot
I HEARD YOU!"
I snap, I fuss, I stomp.
get off your brother's foot
get off my foot
I HEARD YOU!"
I snap, I fuss, I stomp.
I can't wait for what I want.
------------
I see it then,
we're the same.
we want.
I stop
and I sigh
and I breathe
and start again.
"Let me come down there
let me sit with you
let me sit with you
let me look at you
what color would you like?"
and I smile
and I smile
"Green, I think you said green.
Now how about if you ask again?"
I speak calmly
so does he.
He smiles
We share a snack and a laugh
no tears, no fuss, no stomp
just us.
(Heather blogs daily at The Extraordinary Ordinary)

Sounds like conversations here.
ReplyDeletesandy toe
Thank you for this reminder. :)
ReplyDeletebeautiful
ReplyDeleteyes, very nice...
ReplyDelete