Every now and then I find myself saying to the kiddos: "This is not about you. This is about (insert name here). I know you can do this."
I'm usually saying this to them when I need them to recognize that it is not my job, at that moment, to entertain them.
When I need them to sit still and quietly and find something to do on their own.
When they need to know that it is important to be able to focus on others sometimes and learn how to (gasp) wait for their own needs to be met.
I said this to the kiddos a few nights ago, when we all needed to attend an event.
An event that was clearly not going to be exciting for kids. It was a political forum. So maybe it was an event that was not even going to be exciting for some of the adults around us, too.
But their Daddy is running for a public office, so we were there to show support. To show solidarity. To quietly be his cheerleaders.
The kiddos needed to be able to sit in an auditorium and be quietly entertained.
Which is hard when you are a kid. But it is also something that I believe, for my own little world, kids need to be able to do.
We came prepared though. We had books to read. iPads to play on. Paper and pens to write and draw.
But still there were a few times of shhhhussshhhhhing interventions, several trips to the bathroom, a few "I'm boreds" and "I'm hungrys" thrown in for good measure.
As tired working Mommas, we have probably all had to drag our kiddos to events like this. Well, maybe not just like this.
But we have all probably needed to be somewhere and our kids had to come along with us. Maybe we had to bring them to work or to a meeting. Maybe we had to bring them to a race or a performance. Maybe we had to be at an event to talk to someone, in front of a group, or even just needed to have an important conversation with someone else.
Whatever it is, I think this is important for our kids to know. While we work hard to engage in their lives, not every minute, every second has to be about them. Not every activity needs to revolve around them. Not every conversation is ok to be interrupted with their immediate need or want. And sometimes, sometimes, they have to learn how to wait. How to sit still. Be quiet-ish.
And entertain themselves.
I've seen children that don't know how to do this. I've seen my own kiddos who don't always know how to do this.
So, how do we model this for our kids? How do we teach them that sometimes, it is just not going to be about them? How do we give them opportunities to entertain themselves? How do we help them understand that sometimes they have to 'show up' for someone else? How do we let them know that they may need to put their immediate needs aside for a few minutes to support someone else?
We give them a chance to practice this. Practice showing up. Practice sitting still. Practice listening and watching.
We set expectations ahead of time. Prepare them for what's coming. Give gentle reminders. Applaud their successes.
And let them know how much it meant to (insert name here) that they were there for them for this event. For this performance. For this race.
Overall, my kiddos did a great job and I was extremely proud of them.
Y did some reading. She also did some observing and had some fascinating insights on the whole political process. I really enjoyed talking with her about it afterwards. At 8, she has politics figured out better than some adults I know.
By the end of the forum, X was laying on the floor, between the rows of seats, doodling. Quietly doodling.
And I even captured his masterpiece to have forever as a treasured souvenir.
As bored as they may have been for the evening, they learned three important lessons that evening:
1. How to entertain themselves.
2. It is important to show up for someone else.
3. It is not always about you.
Let's all, Go. Do that.
Originally posted on www.mommyverbs.com
Engaging Each Day in Action Words
www.facebook.com/MommyVerbs
Follow on Twitter: @MommyVerbs