Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Data points

Our boys are scientists doing the experiment of a lifetime. They are figuring out if we are really mommy and daddy, for realz. And like any good scientist, they need multiple data points before they can draw a valid conclusion.

The daily data point comes between 8 and 10 AM. They will do something to provoke a reaction. Saturday, for example, A sat down on the sidewalk in the middle of a walk and refused to move. Sunday they got in a big fight over the CD player. Today D poked and poked at things he wasn't supposed to touch, watching me the whole time, until finally I asked, "D, do you want a time out?" Yes, that's exactly what he wanted, so I sat with him and held him tight, and he screamed and screamed and thrashed, and after five minutes I said, "OK, time out is over," and he skipped upstairs to get some books to read.

I am glad the boys are doing the daily time points because each time we get a chance to add to their set of data. Every day we add more evidence that yes, we are mommy and daddy and we're still in charge. I'm proud of the boys for being such good scientists and carrying out such a methodical and clean experiment. The National Academy will be calling any day now.

9 comments:

  1. Love the scientist anology. Great way to keep perspective and keep helping them collect more data points.

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  2. ..and after these experiments I bet they can confirm their hypothesis. Heck, I would say I bet they prove their hypothesis is true.. but since they are such good scientists they know they can't do that.

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    1. Right, it's disproving the null hypothesis all the way with them.

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  3. Wow, what a great way for you to mentally approach these trying moments! T did a lot of sitting in parking lots. Busy parking lots. Filled with vans and SUVs that would not see a stubborn little boy refusing to get up and move. Mommy with a bike in one hand, unable to pick up small child with her free hand. Bike toss -- don't care if that gets run over, grab child. He still tests almost daily. I read once that it's a child's job to test constantly to find out where his limits are. And it's the parents' job to constantly make sure he knows where they are. So it sounds like both you and they are doing well at your assigned tasks!

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    1. And hey, if your bike gets run over and you no longer have a bike, that's a good lesson there too.

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  4. tee hee. i wonder how many of us still do this as adults with our parents or loved ones. checking in, pushing when we need them close, just to test the love.

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  5. Data points ... love it. Maybe remembering this will help me keep a good attitude during those data checks :) Thanks for the analogy

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  6. First off, HA! Love the post. Secondly, I really appreciate that you continue to blog and the material you write about. I'm sure it's hard to balance everything and for many people the first things to go are things like blogs. I love your perspective and I love your style. Keep it coming!

    Eirini

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    1. It's a good way for me to remember as these days all run into each other.

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