Page 126 - issue
P. 126
All Aboard it comes to gifts. I’m not talking about
gifts our children request from us, like a
Fby Eve Poupko gain confidence in their cleaning skills, pony (or in my case a cow). I’m talking
or some reason, optimistic peo- they often want to move on to bigger about the gifts they want to give to us.
ple often stand out among their and better things like mopping the floor. Take Mother’s Day. It starts out simple
peers. Sometimes they’re viewed As a naïve, nurturing parent, you figure, and gets progressively more “optimis-
with awe, while other times, peo- what could it hurt? After all, it’s just wa- tic.” Here is a timeline of Mother’s Day
ple simply find them annoying. ter. Well, think again. It is water when it’s gifts that many a fortunate woman has
Regardless of whether nature or in the bucket; it’s a lake when poured all been privileged to receive: First grade
nurture is responsible for their over the dining room floor. And although was a macaroni necklace. I wore mine
more than pleasant personali- we are taught not to cry over spilled milk, proudly and then cooked it for dinner
ties, it is interesting to note that there is trust me, we do sometimes cry over a (just kidding). Second grade was a beau-
a unique group of individuals who excel spilled lake. However, there’s always a sil- tifully decorated list of fill-in-the-blank
in the area of optimism. The reason they ver, albeit slightly soggy, lining. Anyone attributes that may have given away just
don’t annoy anyone with their positive who can proudly create his own indoor a little too much information. It included
outlook is because they often go unno- lake must be the type to see the proverbi- statements such as, “I like my mommy
ticed. They are our children. Sadly, be- al glass as being half full. because she always buys me candy,”
tween the temper tantrums (theirs, not followed by “My mommy makes the best
yours), the messes, and the squabbles, There are some children who are not peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for
it’s easy to overlook this amazing attri- only immune to crying over spilled milk dinner.” By third grade, we were up to a
bute. But if we watch and listen carefully, but actually embrace the source of it. beautiful homemade card and tissue pa-
we just might learn something. Many years ago, we planted grass seed per flowers, which still adorn my dining
over a large portion of our backyard. room today. As children get older, howev-
One thing that plays a large role in Aware that we had competition from er, they begin to devalue the handmade
the lives of little people is water. We buy various forms of wildlife, we covered the gifts and think that purchasing some-
wading pools for their summertime fun, area with a healthy dose of hay. As we thing is better. The problem with the
take the little cutie pies to water parks, stood around admiring our handiwork, dawning of this notion is that they don’t
and set up sprinklers in our backyards. one of our optimistic offspring wandered always realize that they are supposed to
Little kids and water are like two peas in a over and said with complete sincerity – pay for the gift out of their own hard-
pod. In fact, the good news is that as they and a great deal of enthusiasm – “I didn’t earned cash or hit their fathers up for a
reach the ripe old age of three, they often know we were getting a cow!” Now, I couple of dollars. So on that fateful day,
want to help with any chore that involves didn’t want to break the news to little when your children wish you a Happy
water. This doesn’t ensure that dishes farmer Jack, but all zoning issues aside, Mother’s Day and beg you to take them
actually get clean, of course, or that the I can’t even keep a goldfish alive. Clearly to the candy store because they “just
windows get washed above the one-foot a cow was out of the question, at least for have to buy something for someone,”
mark that limits their reach, but it does the time being. you play along. Upon arriving at the
keep the little tikes busy for the better store, the children anxiously try to con-
part of five minutes. Now, once children Optimism can also rear its endear- vince you that you don’t need to come in
ing though somewhat naive head when because they’ll “only be a minute.” Still
happy to go along with the ruse, you tell
them that you’re fine waiting in the car.
Just as they’re about to close the door,
they poke their heads back in the car and
say, “Mommy, do you have $30?” It’s at
that moment that you have to make a
decision. Do you dash their enthusiasm
by saying “no” or do you jump on the
optimism train. After all, your child just
made it clear that they think you’re worth
at least 30 bucks! I, for one, am happy
to say, “All aboard!” Trust me, when you
see the smile on their faces when they
hand you your gift wrapped in a plastic
bag and tied with a bow made from the
receipt (complete with coupons for your
next purchase), it is well worth it.u
118 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
gifts our children request from us, like a
Fby Eve Poupko gain confidence in their cleaning skills, pony (or in my case a cow). I’m talking
or some reason, optimistic peo- they often want to move on to bigger about the gifts they want to give to us.
ple often stand out among their and better things like mopping the floor. Take Mother’s Day. It starts out simple
peers. Sometimes they’re viewed As a naïve, nurturing parent, you figure, and gets progressively more “optimis-
with awe, while other times, peo- what could it hurt? After all, it’s just wa- tic.” Here is a timeline of Mother’s Day
ple simply find them annoying. ter. Well, think again. It is water when it’s gifts that many a fortunate woman has
Regardless of whether nature or in the bucket; it’s a lake when poured all been privileged to receive: First grade
nurture is responsible for their over the dining room floor. And although was a macaroni necklace. I wore mine
more than pleasant personali- we are taught not to cry over spilled milk, proudly and then cooked it for dinner
ties, it is interesting to note that there is trust me, we do sometimes cry over a (just kidding). Second grade was a beau-
a unique group of individuals who excel spilled lake. However, there’s always a sil- tifully decorated list of fill-in-the-blank
in the area of optimism. The reason they ver, albeit slightly soggy, lining. Anyone attributes that may have given away just
don’t annoy anyone with their positive who can proudly create his own indoor a little too much information. It included
outlook is because they often go unno- lake must be the type to see the proverbi- statements such as, “I like my mommy
ticed. They are our children. Sadly, be- al glass as being half full. because she always buys me candy,”
tween the temper tantrums (theirs, not followed by “My mommy makes the best
yours), the messes, and the squabbles, There are some children who are not peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for
it’s easy to overlook this amazing attri- only immune to crying over spilled milk dinner.” By third grade, we were up to a
bute. But if we watch and listen carefully, but actually embrace the source of it. beautiful homemade card and tissue pa-
we just might learn something. Many years ago, we planted grass seed per flowers, which still adorn my dining
over a large portion of our backyard. room today. As children get older, howev-
One thing that plays a large role in Aware that we had competition from er, they begin to devalue the handmade
the lives of little people is water. We buy various forms of wildlife, we covered the gifts and think that purchasing some-
wading pools for their summertime fun, area with a healthy dose of hay. As we thing is better. The problem with the
take the little cutie pies to water parks, stood around admiring our handiwork, dawning of this notion is that they don’t
and set up sprinklers in our backyards. one of our optimistic offspring wandered always realize that they are supposed to
Little kids and water are like two peas in a over and said with complete sincerity – pay for the gift out of their own hard-
pod. In fact, the good news is that as they and a great deal of enthusiasm – “I didn’t earned cash or hit their fathers up for a
reach the ripe old age of three, they often know we were getting a cow!” Now, I couple of dollars. So on that fateful day,
want to help with any chore that involves didn’t want to break the news to little when your children wish you a Happy
water. This doesn’t ensure that dishes farmer Jack, but all zoning issues aside, Mother’s Day and beg you to take them
actually get clean, of course, or that the I can’t even keep a goldfish alive. Clearly to the candy store because they “just
windows get washed above the one-foot a cow was out of the question, at least for have to buy something for someone,”
mark that limits their reach, but it does the time being. you play along. Upon arriving at the
keep the little tikes busy for the better store, the children anxiously try to con-
part of five minutes. Now, once children Optimism can also rear its endear- vince you that you don’t need to come in
ing though somewhat naive head when because they’ll “only be a minute.” Still
happy to go along with the ruse, you tell
them that you’re fine waiting in the car.
Just as they’re about to close the door,
they poke their heads back in the car and
say, “Mommy, do you have $30?” It’s at
that moment that you have to make a
decision. Do you dash their enthusiasm
by saying “no” or do you jump on the
optimism train. After all, your child just
made it clear that they think you’re worth
at least 30 bucks! I, for one, am happy
to say, “All aboard!” Trust me, when you
see the smile on their faces when they
hand you your gift wrapped in a plastic
bag and tied with a bow made from the
receipt (complete with coupons for your
next purchase), it is well worth it.u
118 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
