Those of you with kids will get this I’m sure. For those of you without….get ready for a chuckle and hopefully some insight.
My son Sam, 6 1/2 going on 30 is as sharp as a whip, funny as heck and as persistent as running lake water on stone…..just keeps at it until he achieves what he sets out for. Being in sales – I watch and listen to him with great appreciation (and sometimes a bit of frustration!) And I really believe that if more people in business took pointers from their children, they’d be way more successful.
So, here’s the deal. On Friday’s and Saturday’s we typically allow Sam to stay up a bit later to watch a movie or something. Because it’s the weekend we can hope he’ll sleep in or at least not be cranky and tired for school. With this past weekend a long weekend we let him stay up on Sunday night as well mainly because we had friends over. So last night, he was intent on staying up again. Dear Dad and I disagreed.
7 pm rolls around and I tell Sam it’s bath time. Ok. “Can he have a snack first” he asks ( he’s now decided he’s really hungry). Ok.
It’s now 7:30. Bath time, fun, fun, fun. “Ok Sam – pull the plug – you can play until the water runs out then it’s time to get out.” says Mom. “ok” comes the reply. Meanwhile he has figured out how to sit on top of the drain so the water doesn’t run out. haa haa (NOT)
It’s now 8pm which he really should be in bed asleep by now. But ok. I get him out. “Oh, mom I have to go to the bathroom”, comes the cute little voice. “ok, do that and let’s brush our teeth. It’s late, Sam so only one book tonight.”
10 minutes later we are finally settled in to read a book and sing a song. What song does he want? Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah – all 5 verses. Ok fine. It’s now 8:35. Kiss kiss – goodnight Sam, see you in the morning.
“can I have a drink” “no”
“I’m still hungry, can I have another snack” “no – go to sleep”
“Mummy – can I tell you something?” “what?” “yesterday when we went to the beach, blah blah blah blah….” story goes on and on. I’m now standing at the door sighing heavily. “Sam – tell me the rest tomorrow – go to sleep”
“Mummy?” “What?” “Can I tell you one more thing?” “no – tell me tomorrow – go to sleep – I love you”
“but Mummy I’ll forget – I just want to tell you one more thing?”
It’s now 9pm and nobody is sleeping. “Sam – tell me tomorrow go to sleep!” “Mummy why do you always get mad at me when I want to talk to you?’ Sigh – he used it. The bad mummy card. Nice.
So finally – 9:20 I close the door and hope he goes off to sleep. Did he get his wish of staying up? YEP. What can we learn from this?
There’s always a way to keep coming at it. To extend out the conversation, to drag out the approach until you find success. You just gotta keep at it until you find your in, however small, and once you’re in stick to it.
Do I think he went to sleep smirking at me? hmmm a little. But what Sam doesn’t know is that I can do the same to him. ;0)
Enjoy your day everyone! And remember, if at first you don’t succeed, try try again.
