You stand me, Daddy?!
You stand me?
You stand me, Daddy!
That’s what Aaron was yelling at me from the back seat as we made our way home from Disneyland. He and Maddie were pretending to chastise each other, “you’re so bad!” “No, you’re so bad!” When suddenly he evidently wanted me to stand up while driving the car.
I told him that I didn’t know what he was talking about. “Sorry, kiddo. I don’t understand you.”
You stand me, Daddy?!
He said it again with the fury and the conviction of the righteous. Lillian laughed, and explained to me that Aaron was asking me if I understand him. Huh, I had answered his question without realizing it.
But why the attitude? What was that about?
When the kiddos misbehave, I try to give them one clear warning about the consequences of their behavior. If they don’t shape up, they’ll lose a treasured privilege. Later that day, when Aaron was getting on my nerves, I gave him the customary warning with the usually stern, “Did you understand that, Aaron?” He didn’t reply, and I insisted on it. I gave him one more forceful “Do you understand me, Aaron?” before I connected the dots.
Oh… So that’s how I am. I didn’t know the kids could create such accurate reflections of ourselves.
Who We Were Then
- David
- Lillian
- Maddie (4 years old)
- Aaron (2 years old)