Bad Mom:
“Summit! GET out of the FREAKIN’ trash can!” I go over there and snatch his hand out, pop the other one lightly and growl at him while dragging him away.
5 minutes later-
“WHAT THE HECK SUMMIT?! I told you NOT TO THROW YOUR SNACK CUP IN THE TRASH!! UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” I smack his diapered butt inefficiently, he looks up at me, tears in his eyes, sad at my deprivation of his fun times. I drag him away to the TV and tell him to stay there.
Good Mom:
“Summit, I realize that you have this fascination with the trash can. I really wish that you wouldn’t throw your laundry in there. The trash sack is very dirty as we, trying to minimize our carbon print on society, dump the contents in the trash into another larger one, then re-use the sack. So, pulling your snack cup out of there grosses out Mamma.” I pat his smiling face and pull him into my arms and read him a book.
5 minutes later-
I change his diaper. “Summit, now is an opportune time to help Mamma by throwing your own diaper away.” He toddles over to the trash can, opens it and throws his diaper away. He turns to me, beaming, and feels like contributing member of our family and has the pride in a job well done.
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Some days a little of each is what gets done around here. Isn’t there something beautiful in moderation?