For a very long time, Monkey would greet me at the end of a long hard day with tears. He had held himself together all day at school and all afternoon at home and my appearance was simply the permission he needed to fall apart. Money was home! Everyone was safe! Let’s have a good long cry!
This pattern was really hard to break because, over time, I was conditioned to expect tears ((And sometimes puke, joy.)) when I walked through the front door which made me a little tense. Monkey fed off my stress and a vicious cycle was born.
We tried a variety of methods but what seemed to work best is that, well, Monkey decided he preferred to greet me in another way. Sorry that I don’t have any stellar parenting tips to help you out but, then again, I never do so…no harm done, I guess.
SO, this new greeting? I love it and it shows that my Monkey pays very close attention to his Money. When I open the front door now, before I make my way up the stairs, I’ll hear Monkey yell out, “Money’s home! Hi Money!” Sometimes he’ll run to see me and sometimes he’ll wait for me to come to him but as soon as we make eye contact he’ll whisper, sweetly, “Choc-o-late?”
Yes, please! That is the exact best way to welcome me home.
Agreed!
BEST GREETING EVER!
Now if I could only get him to bring some actual chocolate to me…perhaps on a silver tray 🙂
I could show him how to just give you some dark chocolate – but I was totally lacking the silver tray part. I will work on that.
Hey, I’ll take it whatever way I can get it and tossed in my lap in LA was PERFECT in it’s own way 🙂
If he had chocolate in his hand, do you think he’d actually share it?
love it!
That’s one smart boy! He’s already learned that mommy and chocolate making everything ok 😉
Love it! Josh hasn’t figured this out yet, but fortunately, my hubby has. 🙂