Yesterday, I had a moment with my 9yo talking about community, responsibility, and skill-building. We discussed a direct building of skill and mentality from: () [made a little sphere with my hands] picking up your socks and underwear off the floor
(( )) [pulled hands apart a bit] to throwing a party at the park and picking up all our trash so we're not littering
((( ))) [made a sweeping big circle motion] to owning a manufacturing company and not dumping your waste product in the river to poison everyone's water. My 9yo predictably made a horrified face and responded, "Who TF would DO that?!" In that moment, my brain paused just for a split second. I was given the choice between petty, and history education. I could have talked about PFAS, about the Detroit river catching on fire, about Ballard and the cow and public drinking water.
I went petty.
"PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THEIR GORRAM SOCKS ON THE FLOOR!"
💡9yo lightbulb moment. "Ooohhhhhhhhhhhhh." They reported to the bathroom and immediately picked up everything off the floor, asking about the towel that wasn't theirs only to be sure it wasn't there for A Reason.
Not my proudest parenting moment. But possibly one of the more effective ones. So on balance...
















