A Day at the Races

Monkey is all about winning these days. And let me tell you - it can get a bit . . . much! I've tried to counter it - I swear! I've calmly explained that "we can't always be first", "winning isn't everything", "it's the race that's fun not the outcome", "yada yada yada". But it's exhausting! Not to mention a bit of a lie. I ran track and it does matter who comes in first. But we'll let all that wait until puberty, because it is not fun when your three year-old is gasping in tears at the bottom step because you dared go first on the way to brush teeth. I mean, I didn't break down crying when I was second in the 400 - come on kid! (oh wait, I think I did in Cross-Country when we didn't do very well at State - but it was an aberration I swear!)

Well, it's a losing battle (see our language is filled with winning and losing - it's impossible to escape) that I am still trying to fight in bits each day but if you can't beat `em join `em (or at least exploit `em). You may recall Monkey's monster phase and how I used that to my advantage . . . well he still has a habit of denying the need to pee before long car trips - so now it's a "race to the potty". Works like a charm! He's also been refusing to try to put on his own coat. But not if it's a RACE! Next, we'll try socks and shoes (if he doesn't fall out of this phase in the meantime). We'll see you at the races!