Momservation: Beware of the child who discovers the power of multi-media presentation.
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My kids have officially exited the “Please! Please! Pleeeeease!” phase of trying to get what they want.
They have now advanced to implementing business strategy: They have assessed that begging does not work, have changed their course of action, researched and employed new tactics, setting themselves up for a more desirable outcome.
Translation: I just received a multi-media presentation from my 11 year-old for a backyard zip line.
Here’s the run-up to it: For years my kids have been begging for a trampoline. I have held firm to my stance that it is not if but when they want to go to the hospital and the answer is and always will be: NO. Don’t even bother asking Santa because his policy is No Animals, No Baby Brothers or Sisters, No Trampolines.
Recently my daughter and my 13 year-old son decided our nearly one acre lot would be a perfect spot for a zip line. In fact, they decided, the best place for it would be from a 25 foot pine tree on the edge of the property, over our pool, to their two-story playhouse.
As they were brainstorming this idea in the backseat, Hubby and I were highly entertained listening to them. We even played devil’s advocate, throwing out potential obstacles to the plan to see how creative they could be.
Because we didn’t stop the kids in their planning, rushing to kabosh the seeds of a bad idea as we are usually wont to do, they interpreted this as a sign that the door might be slightly ajar to this idea.
They immediately made plans to rush home, come up with a fool-proof proposal for a zip line, and present it in a way that would kick the door of YES wide open.
- First, they got a tape measure and measured the distance of the proposed zip line. They might have tried to figure out the angle of descent needed but agreed that since it was the weekend they didn’t have to do math.
- Then they got on the laptop to research zip line packages and pricing.
- Next, they went and counted their money.
- Finally, each retreated to their own corners to come up with their best proposal/presentation for a zip line.
The entire time they did this they were bouncing around like popcorn in a popper, jacked-up that if they did this right—which they believed they were—Mom and Dad would green light a backyard zip line.
What each child presented cracks me up because it is so indicative of their personalities:
– The whip-smart, stubborn girl who is excellent at reading people and situations, destined to be a prosecuting attorney because of her flair for dramatic and always needing to have the last word
– The always-in-motion boy who thinks inertia means death, who is also very smart, but will only do what is required of him—unless it is on the playing field where he goes above and beyond.
Here’s my son’s zip line presentation:
Here’s my daughter’s zip line presentation:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzsjVmW1K-U]
He agreed they should go with hers.
Look out Kid President. Here comes Kid Mogul.