HOW TO RAISE A BOY – PART 3
Part 3 - “Invention not Attention”
That is, provide opportunity for creativity and invention, but be light on the attention…otherwise, the process stops. On Christmas morning the adults were all busy with their new “toys” and Cooper Kenneth wondered what his place was in that room. What was he supposed to be doing?
“Sitting politely, wondering what to do.”
It’s a little frustrating when no one pays attention to you, but there’s always something interesting around:
“A pink box with something in it – and it makes a noise when I pick it up.”
Yeah, this works good. Shake it up!
Works REAL good!
Until something falls out and it stops making that noise:
The game has stopped. Anyone going to help?
Waiting. Waiting. Cooper looks into each face and no one looks back. And Grandma has a camera in her face. No help there. Cooper might have to figure out how to fix it himself.
It seems to take forever, but Grandma’s heart swells with pride – and keeps the camera in front of her face.
I think this will probably work:
It’s working again!!
Hey, Someone!! I got it working again!!!!
By this time Grandma put her camera down and start tugging on people’s pants legs too! Hey, Mommy, do you know what your little boy has been doing for the last fifteen minutes? He made a new toy for himself, and then it broke, and then he figured out how to fix it, and he’s really enjoying this again and again…and….
Daddy! Do you know what your little boy has been doing….?
Uncle! Did you see what Cooper’s been doing…?
Sighhhhh. Sometimes you don’t get any attention. And the enjoyment of the moment is yours alone. You’ve done well…and the pleasure is all yours.
And do you know what happened next? Once I put my camera down and everyone start talking to Cooper about his new toy, the game was over.
There’s a lesson in there somewhere.
Explore posts in the same categories: Childhood, Cooper, FamilyTags: Family, Lessons Learned
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