Kids and What I Learned Today

Chocolate Milk rules!

LilMan was introduced to chocolate milk when he was about a year and a half.  Em, when she was about a year.  Ever since, it has been a question at every breakfast, lunch and dinner “can I get the goodest milk?”.

We started with Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup to make chocolate milk. There was one point, i put aside an empty milk jug to mix my own chocolate milk to have it at the ready.  We kept it at the ready, until Ben started getting concerned about sugars and non natural materials (apparently there is some study out there that relates sugar to crack – it is that addictive). We tried the “All natural” version of Hershey’s and it clotted – it was disgusting (if I won’t eat or drink it, I won’t make my kids – same goes with brussel sprouts).  So we switched to Nestle Quick (with the rabbit ).  That is now the “goodest”.  (I’m so glad I’m writing this stuff down, I want my kids to know this and when I’m old an senile, I want to remember it. ) {sigh}

Chocolate milk is the ultimate bribery tool.  I use bribery – some parents may scoff at it, but it works for me.

Every-single-night..! we go through the same thing.  I tell the kids to find whatever toy or stuffed animal they want to sleep with and get to bed.  They scramble for about 15 minutes, with about 2 or 3 prompts to focus on what they are trying to find, until finally I’ve had enough, and I say ((or yell) “ok, that’s enough, it’s Em’s {or LilMan’s} turn to pick a story! LilMan, go to the bathroom (why do I have to remind him of that every-single-night!).  Em, pick out a night outfit.”

It’s another 15 minutes saying “did you go potty?” – “Um, no” – “Why not” – “Um, I don’t know.” – “What do you mean you don’t know, haven’t you been present in whatever it is you’ve been doing?….GO POTTY!” and off he stomps to the bathroom.  If I don’t do this and wake him up in 2 hours he’ll wet his bed, which I make him change – you’d think he’d think this a priority…what is going on in the the mind of  a 5 year old boy!

“Em, did you get the night outfit?” which I already know the answer to because she is sitting in the middle of her room playing with one of my really old Glamour Gals (circa 1980s ). She just looks at me and says “I’m busy making something.” - arrggghhh! I know where she gets that saying, from me…. “Get a night outfit!”

Finally, after I’ve gone through several breathing exercises, I deliver the threat on no stories, no bed-time kisses, and the one that gets them to move “no chocolate milk in the morning!”  Well, that just makes me feel great – they’d rather have chocolate milk than a story and a kiss…humf – I guess they’re done with me!

What I Learned Today: If the child is not behaving the way I expect them to, threaten to take away a chocolate milk – kids priorities are sooo simple!