Kids react the way their parents react. If I exaggerate a fall, they freak out. I will never forget the moment when Ryan fell at camp. He was in the nursery and I was in a staff meeting. The sitter came to me and said that Ryan had fallen off of a chair and cut his lip. Well...turns out he had hit his tooth and it was half way up his gums. Inside I was freaking out, but on the outside I was calm..."ooo, Ryan, show me your monster face. (So I could see the tooth!). Show Aunt Amy. (So she could see it!). I think I might have to call the dentist to tell him I have a new monster at the house." He did not totally flip out...and we all survived the situation. In fact, his tooth came back down over the next few weeks...amazing really!
Growing up my mom was drama free. (There was still drama in my house, but my mom never fed into it.). We would cry because we weren't chosen for a part; she would say that's a bummer, but that's the way it goes. We would be worried about what everyone thought of our appearance; she would say no one is really looking at you! (That would make us laugh. Clearly we would have tons of people looking our way, right? Right?! Cricket, cricket!). We just learned that there was more to life than ourselves.
And now, looking at my life now, I think my sisters and I under-exaggerate because that's how our mom was. Don't get me wrong, I am a dramatic story teller, but I try to not over exaggerate situations. It is an interesting parent strategy...and one that I would like to see lots of parents adopt! I hope we all learn to under-exaggerate just a little more.
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