Be Specific
Jonah and I were on our way to the gym yesterday when I turned to ask him, “So, doodlebug. How was your day?”He grimaced a little so I had to ask, “Did you have a bad day? Why the frowny face?”
“No. I just don’t ever know how I’m supposed to answer that. I mean. It sounds so stupid to just say ‘good’”.
“Jonah, it’s simple. All you have to do is tell me what I want to hear.”
“I don’t get it. What do you want to hear?”
“I want to hear how your day was. I wasn’t there with you, so I want to know what you did. Did you take a test? Tell me. Did you get in trouble? Tell me. Did you pass Ms. Roberson and tell her ‘hello’? Tell me.”
“You want to hear THAT kind of stuff?”
“Yes, son. I do. I want to hear about the little things that make up your day.”
And I swear, y’all, it was like lighting a firecracker tied to the tail of a coon dog.
The child started talking and did not shut-up for the next twenty minutes!
I was marveling as I zoned in and out of the conversation (well!!!) that I was the recipient of this spewing fountain of information because I asked for specifics. And I mean I got specifics. I can even tell you when the child went to the rest room and why going at this time is better than going at that time!!!
And wouldn’t my diet have gone easier if I had learned to be specific along the way?
In the beginning I waited for people to just slowly figure out I was eating healthy now. “Uhm, no thanks. I really shouldn’t. But since you brought it…”
I evolved into suggesting, “I really think you should give that to someone else.”
Which led to, “I hate to waste it, but I will have to throw it away to keep from eating it. And I’m not going to eat it.”
Then came the violent Adina phase, “Leave that here and you will draw back a nub.” Followed by a smacking of my hand on my desk.
But it was once I learned to be direct with what I wanted that it all fell into place. “I would not care for any. Thank you.”
You just have to say what your need.
That’s all it takes.
I still slap the desk sometime though. Just because I want to. Slapping burns calories, and I’m dramatic like that!
March 31, 2009 at 5:16 am
it’s funny about all the "little tricks" people use to stay in shape. someone asked me what magic diet i was on yesterday. i told them it was a big secret, eat less/workout more.