Often times, I think I have the pokiest child in the history of pokey children. Lillian dawdles, and "just a minute"s, and "be right there"s into next Thursday. If I tell her to do something and leave her to her own devices to do it, there's a 100% chance it won't get done. For example, right now, she's pushing 30 minutes in emptying the silverware. I realize she's 3, but I think if you count how many times I have to say, "Lillian! Get down here and get your shoes on" in a given morning, it will be at least 20% higher than any average mom.
I don't remember being pokey myself, but I have one memory that suggests to me that I probably was. I don't know how old I was, the memory is of that foggy quality that makes me think I was pretty young... so maybe 5. My mom told me to put my shoes on, and I guess I was taking kind of a long time because she came in and said, "I don't know why it always takes you so long to put your shoes on. You know, I bet you can't get your shoes on in under five minutes!" In hindsight, she probably wasn't actually challenging me, but that's what I took it as. She walked away and I whipped those shoes onto my feet as fast as I could, just to show her how superfast I was.
I got up to show her my lickety-split handy work. "Mom, I put my shoes on!" I was sure she'd be so excited and say she was wrong about telling me I was a slow-poke. Nope. "Good, get in the car," was what she actually said.
I'd be lying if I said this didn't hurt my 5-year-old self a little bit. But this is pretty much the only negative memory I have of my mother*, which goes to show that she's was, and is, an awesome mom.
*I actually do have another negative memory: like the first, I was pretty small, and asked my mom what an Autummus was. As in Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the Autummus.... And instead of answering my question, she just laughed at me. This greatly hurt my feelings. I was confused about this (the lyrics, not being laughed at) until I was a teenager and came across some sheet music to the song.
6 comments:
I've actually heard the Puff the Magic Dragon story before (we were sitting outside of Sister K.'s house waiting to go to girls camp) so that means I'm a real friend.
And I loved that you used the word "pokey"
I have many a memory of Andrew and I being ready to go to school, and waiting on you. I always thought you were pokey.
Yes you were pokey. By the way I have that conversation one thousand times a day with my children, "I bet you can't do * quicker that *." But I usually try to follow up with, "Wow! Soren you got your shoes on! Good job!"
I think that you were just easily distracted--- from what I remember.
I find my kids are pokey too. If I'm not helping them do it, they forget what it was they were supposed to be doing
Of all of the interesting bets I am aware of you having, this one is considerably less racy.
or should I say, "scandalous"?
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