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Thursday, April 19, 2012

Little Big Boy

I have come to the conclusion that between Mother and Child, there will always be disagreement. It doesn't matter WHAT the mother says or does. The child will take the opposite view.

Now, is it not true that kids normally DON'T WANT to do their homework, whilst mothers WANT kids to do homework... all their homework and nothing else BUT their homework? So, I thought I would make myself popular with Little Boy by taking the view that homework is a waste of time. Play is more important. So there I am hurrying Little Boy to finish his work so that he can play. And there I am proposing to write excuse letters to Teacher for this or that piece of homework.

But does Little Boy thank me? No. Does he think I am a cool Mom? No. Instead, he rolls his eyes in a MOST disrespectful manner and says "MaaaaaaaaaaaOM! Stop asking me not to do my homework!"

Eh what?

I was hurt. Little Boy has always been patient and sweet to me. When he was little, I left him at a baby sitting centre for 2 hours so that I could run some errands. He planted himself on a chair facing the carpark where he last saw me drive off, and sat there watching for 2 hours waiting for me. If I worked late, Little Boy would stand at the door of my study looking forlornly at me with his milk bottle in his mouth tilted to one side, wordlessly persuading me to get up and go put him to bed. If I travelled, he would make all sorts of presents from household odds and ends, place it in the walkway of our entrance to welcome me home. If I cried because he wouldn't put away his toys, he patted my knee and then kept everything away in his toy bins. So, when he yelled at me, it was a new experience.

Me: When people offer you help, and you don't want it, reject nicely.

LB: But Maaaaaaom! You ask me EVERY day!

Me: Yes... because everyday you have different homework. I can't tell if you want help or not if I don't ask.

LB: If I want help, I will ask.

Me: Still... you can say it NICELY.

LB: Sigh! Ok Mom.

So there. Little Boy and I have had our very first adolescent spat. He's getting to that age. He's no longer Little Boy. He's Big Boy. So sad!

13 comments:

Malar said...

Oh dear Petunia.... This post bring tears to me...
Soon I will face the same thing....sigh....
Anyway we have to accept that they have grown up....

aimees_mom said...

Sounds just like my DD and I
Was just telling a friend that telling her to NOT do homework is punishment to her.

Peony

Blur Ting said...

I hate to say this but you'll get used to this. My kids are like that now. But their friends think I'm cool.

Open Kitchen Concept said...

"Moooomm", don't worry. Little Boy (aka Big Boy now) has such a sweet heart I'm sure he'd be fine. :)

Petunia Lee said...

Malar - Yours is in preschool. A few more years to enjoy.

Petunia Lee said...

Peony - Yah! Exactly! Weird!

Petunia Lee said...

Ting - Yeah... I'll have to get used to it won't I? Sob!

Petunia Lee said...

OKC - I think so too. It's different than having him look at me as if I were all that mattered. Sigh!

My Sinfonia said...

he might miss it when you stop asking ;)

Petunia Lee said...

Sinfonia - Hmmmmm... that's an idea. Maybe I'll stop for a bit. Hmmmmmmph!

TCY said...

The stage of pre-teen to adulthood can be an "emo" state, they tend to get quite sensitive,will prefer that one discuss things rather than telling them to do things. Husband's favourite phrase is stop molly coddling,let them find their own feet" but to a mother sometime its hard to let go.Dont worry too much, they know what to do for themselves, one just be there for support & to make sure they go the right way.

Sharon said...

Hi Petunia, my son is only 5 and i can feel him grown up... and I can so understand what it is like having a baby, it is like nothing experienced in life! so I can only thank God and thank God that I can stay home and be with them for a season and time ...

Petunia Lee said...

Sharon - 5 is a nice age. A big boy in some ways and so endearingly childlike in others. You've many more good years ahead. Enjoy!