So yesterday's situation and subsequent discussion with Corey's teacher did get me thinking. I don't think Corey needs counseling, but he does need to talk more. He doesn't talk about his feelings much. And just asking him "How are you" or "How was school today?" is not enough. Because all you get is "good" and "fine". So I sat down with him and had a long conversation. We talked about school, games, friends, fears, things that make him happy, sad, or angry. Anyone who knows Corey knows he has a very extensive and rather impressive vocabulary, so getting him to open up, was actually a treat in many ways.
We made some decisions. No TV on until after 7:30 on week days. I thought I was doing good by not having cable, thus limiting our options. But we just end up watching a movie or reruns. This is just as much for me as it is for him.
Instead we will play games and talk.
He loves Dominos. He has beat me badly (ok very badly) both nights that we have played. The first night I didn't lose on purpose, but I was just kinda playing. Then last night I focused a little more. By the third round I was strategizing and planning. Meanwhile the kid with the great vocabulary is using it to do some serious smack talking. How sad is it that I put all that effort into the game and he still wiped the floor with me? I know we are not talking chess here, but holy crap!
Point? Just sitting down over a friendly (until I get so frustrated by being beat by a 6 year old that throw the game in the trash) game and talking to your child or loved one is a great way to deepen and strengthen your relationship. Maybe that is why I love to play Gin Rummy with my mom, Skip-O with Nicole, Trivial pursuit with TJ, Air Hockey with Joe, and Chicken Scratch with my dad. Even though they all beat me horribly every time. (I am starting to notice a pattern here! Maybe games are not my forte!)
You laugh, talk, and sometimes just sit and play.
Maybe this is why men seem to bond while watching a sport event on TV. Any sport event. It could be under water basket weaving for crying out loud and they will watch it, grunt, and bond. Ladies, I think I just figured a little something out about that dark abyss known as men. When they watch games, yell at the TV, banter about stats, and project bodily gases, they are really saying "Hey dude, you and me, we're tight."
Ahhhhh games, Mattel's little miracle!
We made some decisions. No TV on until after 7:30 on week days. I thought I was doing good by not having cable, thus limiting our options. But we just end up watching a movie or reruns. This is just as much for me as it is for him.
Instead we will play games and talk.
He loves Dominos. He has beat me badly (ok very badly) both nights that we have played. The first night I didn't lose on purpose, but I was just kinda playing. Then last night I focused a little more. By the third round I was strategizing and planning. Meanwhile the kid with the great vocabulary is using it to do some serious smack talking. How sad is it that I put all that effort into the game and he still wiped the floor with me? I know we are not talking chess here, but holy crap!
Point? Just sitting down over a friendly (until I get so frustrated by being beat by a 6 year old that throw the game in the trash) game and talking to your child or loved one is a great way to deepen and strengthen your relationship. Maybe that is why I love to play Gin Rummy with my mom, Skip-O with Nicole, Trivial pursuit with TJ, Air Hockey with Joe, and Chicken Scratch with my dad. Even though they all beat me horribly every time. (I am starting to notice a pattern here! Maybe games are not my forte!)
You laugh, talk, and sometimes just sit and play.
Maybe this is why men seem to bond while watching a sport event on TV. Any sport event. It could be under water basket weaving for crying out loud and they will watch it, grunt, and bond. Ladies, I think I just figured a little something out about that dark abyss known as men. When they watch games, yell at the TV, banter about stats, and project bodily gases, they are really saying "Hey dude, you and me, we're tight."
Ahhhhh games, Mattel's little miracle!
posted by Cindy at 9:09 AM
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