Let’s speak with true candor. Leadership Education not only strongly advises that you are one step ahead of those being led at all times, but that to the best of the leader’s ability, a demeanor of calm confidence is displayed. This would give the illusion impression of stability and competence to those following your lead. And we all know the old adage that you have ONE CHANCE to make that first impression. As a parent, I have often wondered, what then, we are supposed to be doing with the MILLIONS of following impressions?!…But never mind. That’s for a later discussion.
Back to the 120 degree garage where the simulation of a trial was being conducted. Since #5’s toe-tapping exercise had now been replaced with a healthy level of voice modulation; he had my complete and undivided attention. I quickly and smoothly switched to plan “B”. Perhaps that is slightly overstated. Plan B began to manifest itself beautifully, as we continued to dialogue.
“#5, you look hot.” ” That’s because I AM hot. ” And we’re in this garage, looking for a costume that I asked you for days and days and days to find.” ” That’s because I knew you’d lost it, mom.” “#5, what if it is this warm for Halloween?”
This was clearly a consideration that his then seven-year-old mind hadn’t quite yet processed. “Then when you put all that white makeup junk on my face, I’m going to shweat (the seven-year-old pronunciation for sweat) it all off into my eyes and my suit.” He is now looking quite unsure of himself, where pressing the issue of this particular costume choice is concerned.
“Would you like to consider wearing something else in case it’s too hot for felt?” ” It IS too hot for felt. It’s always too hot for felt.” “I’ve told you that lots of times when the shweat sweat is pouring off of my face and making that white and black stuff go in my eyes…”
How about being “Nacho Libre?” Since we are newfound friends here, understand a couple of truths that are practically eternal. I rarely go to, or watch, movies or television. I need a good reason. I would just rather do other things. Like read. Or read some more. This doesn’t make me better or worse than anyone who has an opposite viewpoint. It’s just trivia for knowing me better.
I would rather consider being blind than watch Nacho Libre ever again. It was one of the most mindless activities I’ve participated in since the last time I cleaned a bathroom. On this particular day, however, I was toying with calling The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood and asking them to reconsider nominating Nacho Libre for some sort of an Academy Award. Any category they were willing to consider would do. And I was going to add it to our list of “core movies” if my plan worked. No, really. Flexibility is a constant when educating the leaders of tomorrow…or at least those that are seven.
More to follow…
Filed under Holiday Happenings | Comment (0)
Perhaps some of us practicing Leadership Education methodologies could, from time to time, use a smidge of help in organizational and “planning ahead” techniques. This would particularly apply to those moments when you “know that you know, that you KNOW” EXACTLY where last year’s costume-that-was-purchased-with-the-intent-of-getting-at-least-two-year’s-worth-of-wear-out-of-it, is being safely and efficiently stored.
When your then-seven-year-old (son #5), begins coming to you a month before the holiday festivities to “check in” and make sure that said costume has been located, you should possibly consider that as a serious prod to stand up and take notice. Actually locating the costume at that point would be a proactive approach to fending off Halloween Day hysteria and meltdown. But why rush a good thing? I KNEW that I KNEW where it was. Period.
As Halloween drew near, the conversations went something like this… “Um, mom (tap your right foot up and down with arms folded while speaking), you really don’t know where you’re storing that skeleton costume, do you?” ( More incessant tapping to be heard in the pregnant pause.) “Yes, #5, I DO happen to know where it is. Now please stop worrying.” “Then how come I haven’t seen it yet?” “Aren’t you wanting me to try it on to make sure it fits?” “I’ve grown you know.” I refuse to be intimidated or manipulated into caving under the pressure of a seven-year-old’s stare. This drill continues day in and day out until the week of Halloween, 2008. I finally decide that perhaps a casual perusal through the box in the garage where I KNOW the elusive skeleton costume is housed, is in order. Son #5 decides to join me, just for fun.
Never mind, that even though it’s October 25; where we live, it’s still nearly 100 degrees. And the aforementioned costume happens to be felt. Beautiful to behold and experience, but nonetheless… felt. And also, at this particular juncture in time, NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. Trying to appear casual, while rivers of sweat begin their journey down my back, I open box numbers 2, 3, and 4. NO COSTUME. Panic rises up in me, but quickly remembering three of George S. Patton’s One Minute Messages, I appear to remain calm, cool and collected.
Son #5 is not easily fooled, and playing the part of Johnny Raincloud, pipes up with the following…” I knew it.” ” You can’t find the costume, can you?” ” I even gave you days and days and days of notice!” “This is just GREAT!” ” Am I going as Adam…in NOTHING?” Seems to me someone else said “Never let them see you sweat.” This was already null and void, as it was probably 120 degrees in the garage, and #5 was turning up the heat with every minute! “What’s a mom to do?” Follow the principles, man!
1.Be alert to the source of trouble. 2.Make your plans to fit the circumstances. 3.Never let the enemy pick the battle site.
As a mom of boys, it seriously pays to cozy up to the likes of Patton once in awhile! Stay tuned!…
Because no one is an island; but for moms at home, it can certainly seem like it.
Community is necessary, even vital, for inspiration, encouragement and meaningful dialogue. It keeps us sharp, helps us to know that there are “others out there in a big wide world,” and invites healthy interaction through the sharing of opinions and ideas.
Thoughts, opinions, and ideas are often the impetus for genius to be unbridled.
…And, let’s face it….in the midst of lofty self- inflicted expectations, it never hurts to laugh hysterically once in awhile!
Filed under Real Life | Comment (1)It was bound to happen.
Me. Blogging.
I love to read. Books. Blogs. And everything in between.
I also love to write. Well, really I love to talk.
Such is the fun of blogging. I get to talk by writing on the internet.
How fun! (And a little scary for those who already know me…my filter isn’t always on.)
I plan on writing about leadership education, homeschooling my 5 boys and real life.
In the coming weeks and months I hope to fill this website with entertaining posts, great resources and a healthy dose of our real life enjoying our freedom as a family lucky to live in the United States of America.
I hope we can all connect often! Thanks for stopping by. Come back and visit again soon…
Filed under Real Life | Comments (2)
