We mommas use whatever tools we have at our disposal, right? And if the testosterone coursing through the veins of our little boys can be harnessed for our convenience, we should go for it, right?
I sure do.
Recently I stumbled across a really easy (and oh-so-funny) tip to get my boys to help me with things like carrying laundry baskets, moving furniture, bringing in groceries, etc....without a moment of arguing. Here's an example of how it works:
Me: Stephen, I need some help moving these boxes to the garage. [Long pause here while I appear to be re-assessing.] You know, never mind, I think these might be a little too heavy for you.
Stephen: [Popping up eagerly from the couch.] Too heavy? Those aren't too heavy! Let me try!
Me: [Insert overly dramatic skepticism here.] Are you sure? There are a lot of them.
Stephen: Aw, that's easy, Mom, I can do them all...
Presto. I get eager help from the boys, and they get an ego boost. Works for me--every time!
Have an idea you'd like to share with all of Bloggityville? Leave your link below. WFMW guidelines can be found here. If you don't have a blog, you're welcome to leave your WFMW tip in my comments section.
Remember that next Wednesday is WFMW: The Car Edition. Give us your best tips for handling life on the go. How to entertain the kids in the car, or keep up with your little league gear, or how to stock an auto first aid kid...let us know what works for you.
That is so funny. I can see this working for my 5 year old. I love it!
Posted by: Nikki | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 10:58 PM
LOL..I love how reverse psychology always works on them!
Have a nice Wednesday!!
Laura
Posted by: Laura | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:00 PM
That is too cute! Thanks for sharing and hosting!
Posted by: Tater and Tot | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:03 PM
Lol! I do this with my almost-3-year-old. :) Today I was telling him what a strong boy he was when he was helping me. ;) You should have seen his smiles! :D
Thanks once again for hosting WFMW. You are so gracious, and I know I'm not the only one who appreciates it! :)
Posted by: Tammy L | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:04 PM
At our house, with toddlers, I steal from Bob the Builder, and ask my daughter, "Can you do it?" for the happy response of "Yes I can!" as she runs to put away whatever I've asked her too. Yep. :D Glad to know that sort of thing works as they get older too!
peace of Christ to you,
Jessica
Posted by: Jessica Snell | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:13 PM
Sounds like great child psychology to me. :-)
Posted by: Barbara H. | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:16 PM
That's cute! Showing their best and their brawn for their mamma. That is sweet.
~Blessings,
Posted by: Joyful Days | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:23 PM
Great idea on getting boys to help! maybe a modified version would help with hubby's :)
Pam
Posted by: Terrific Teens | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:23 PM
Ah yes, I've done that. It works wonders on my four boys, from the youngest to even still the oldest (ages 3 & 12).
Brandy of The Building Brows
Posted by: Brandy | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:24 PM
That's how I got my kids (and now grandkids) to go to the potty when I needed them to go. I would say "we need to go to the potty before we leave, but just remember it's my turn to go first"...it got them everytime. They always want to be first.
Posted by: KD | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:33 PM
How funny!
I also wanted to say how much I appreciate your hosting WFMW! I love participating and learning all the great new tips!
Blessings,
~Mrs.B
Posted by: Mrs.B | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:37 PM
Thanks, Shannon!
Posted by: Myfriendconnie | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Oh, this is perfect...with 4 boys in the house, I suspect it will come in most handy! I'm thinking it might work with some of my girls, as well!
Posted by: Anne-Marie | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 12:25 AM
Great idea! Gotta love that reverse phsychology! Especially when it involves the male ego, no matter how young the male!
Posted by: nspiredbyfaith | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 12:37 AM
Too funny! I hope that works for us when Snuggle Bug gets older. :)
Posted by: Overwhelmed! | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 12:47 AM
how funny, I will have to try that! I love WFMW by the way! I only found your site a coupl eof months ago, and I have read them every week since, though this is my first time posting. It took me forever to think of a good idea to post about! I hope to do so more often now.
Thanks and God bless!
Posted by: Deanna | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 12:48 AM
You're a master of psychology most definitely. When do you think they're going to be onto you?
Posted by: Michelle | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 12:52 AM
Oooh like it. Mine is up with photos of my BIG calendar.
Posted by: zoe | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 01:35 AM
I do it with my boys too - and to tell you the truth, with my husband too. Ego-stroking, it's naturally in the male's genes I guess! ;-)
Posted by: Salvina | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 01:42 AM
Clever! Very clever!
Posted by: Pastormac's Ann | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 02:08 AM
I wonder if this works for little girls too? I think I'll give it a try! LOL!
Posted by: Kailani | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 03:01 AM
Yours is a tip that has worked for me on many occassions! Play up their manhood and they are more than cooperative.
Posted by: Julie | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 06:20 AM
Darn it. I forgot to add (spiffy bandage) after my name.
Not quite enough sleep, I guess. Sorry about that.
I'm thrilled to know how to get bigger boys to move heavy items. I'll store that away in my brain for future use. :)
Posted by: ThoughtfulMom | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 06:34 AM
wow, brilliant!
Posted by: allysha | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 06:43 AM
Amen, Sister! They might as well get use to it now, cause the girls will run with that 'tactic' when they get older!
Posted by: Girl Gone Wild | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:02 AM
great use of positive language!
Posted by: The Not Quite Crunchy Parent | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:04 AM
That's really funny. I had a trick to make the kids think cleaning was fun. They were really into video games, and I told them to pretend the spray bottle was a weapon, and the dirt was the enemy.
Trouble was, sometimes they'd make messes just to clean them up with their 'weapons.'
Posted by: mom2fur | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:04 AM
I totally do this with my kids. Works for girls as well as boys, I've found. :)
Eva
Posted by: Eva | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:08 AM
Holy cow! 66 entries? Already? at 7 am????? Yikes! Please tell me ya'll autopost or something ...
Posted by: Merci | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:10 AM
Thanks for hosting WFMW... I learn SO MANY great tips from the women that know! Happy Wednesday!
Posted by: Sarah | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:14 AM
That one made me laugh, but oh how true it is!! (I have four brothers, I should know.) Thanks, Shannon!
Posted by: Mama Russell (Kelly) | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:20 AM
OH! I LOVE THAT!!! I have raised 3 boys and I think you are on to something. What a positive way to reinforce our kids and yet get them to do what we want with no arguing. You go girl!!
Posted by: the Butler's wife | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:32 AM
I've done that too! Works for Me!
Posted by: Tara | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:50 AM
heeeeeyyyyy my mom must have done that to me because I think I remember her thinking out loud that something might be "too hard" for me to do. lol!
Posted by: Liz | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:51 AM
Boys are wonderful creatures aren't there? (husbands work the same way!!) [grin}
Thanks for hosting this!!
Posted by: Michelle | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:52 AM
Great idea! I will be refining this over the next few weeks!
Blessings,
jen
Posted by: jen | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:53 AM
Great tip! I often ask for them to help by saying, "I need someone with really big muscles." Works every time! Thanks for hosting!
Posted by: Heather L. | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Oh my gosh, what I brilliant idea! I'm going to have to give this a try on my two macho boys.
Thanks so much.
Posted by: April | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 08:34 AM
That's awesome! Does it work on husbands too?
Posted by: Jill | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Thank you for hosting, Shannon! I finally jumped into this "most excellent adventure" you have every week! :)
Posted by: Holly | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 09:16 AM
Oh yeah. That's helped me in many ways, not just physical. The old "this might be too grown-up/hard/delicious/fun for you" trick is one of the great tools of motherhood (and wifehood). Is wifehood a word?
Posted by: Penny | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 09:28 AM
Ha! That's a good idea!
Posted by: Pieces | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 09:32 AM
So funny! I can see where this would work with my little boy. Maybe hubby too, worth a try!
Posted by: Kerri | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 09:34 AM
http://fishcreekhouse.blogspot.com/2007/02/time-has-come-today.html
LOL shannon.. nice work
GP in Montana
Posted by: GP | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 09:35 AM
I do the same thing! I've got 3 boys, and I've been known to look them up and down and ask "which one of you is the strongest?". I might even feel their muscles.
Mama Says
Posted by: Milehimama | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Thanks for another WFMW!
Posted by: Liza | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Oh, it drove me crazy that my mom could get any male to do anything under the sun when I was a kid. As I got older, I suddenly realized that it's a lot easier to bat my eyes and appeal to that male ego rather than change a tire! :)
I think you're on the right track, Shannon!
Posted by: Lissa | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Oh my, I have 4 boys I will have to remember this one and use it with abandon! :)
Thanks for the tip!!
Posted by: Julee | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 11:10 AM
I do this with my 3 year old...makes him feel STRONG. like. superman.
Posted by: Karen | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 11:13 AM
I can't wait to try this strategy on Son 1. Never too young to be manipulated, I always say.
Looking forward to the car edition! Zoom-Zoom!
Posted by: Christine | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Sneaky!! I like it :-) Happy WFMW.
Posted by: J.Fergie | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 11:38 AM
this is my first ever WFMW entry!! wa hoo!! probably someone has shared this before, but it sure did work for me. thanks!!
Posted by: monica | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 11:54 AM
I like that idea! I know my 8 year old would REALLy respond to this. LOL Thanks
Posted by: Carla | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 12:26 PM
I'll definetely have to try this on my sons.
Posted by: Cindy | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 12:48 PM
I've actually tried something similar with my two-year-old, but it only worked a few times and then he decided he didn't care. :) Maybe when he's older!
Posted by: Emily | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 01:09 PM
I LOVE it! That's a great tip. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Kim | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 01:22 PM
Oh crud! I just messed up on the WFMW--can I delete it and try again?
Posted by: Meagan Francis | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 02:29 PM
Mothers of sons, take heed! I grew up with girls, so I didn't know the value of this tactic until my son turned three. IT WORKS!
Note: May also be used on reluctant husbands -- especially when you're pregnant. *evil grin*
Posted by: Faerylandmom | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 02:41 PM
That's great! :) I do this with my kids all the time. Drama Queen just turned 4 and I've been saying... "Oh, but now that you are four I bet you can do that because you are SOOO big11" or "No, no, I don't think you can do that...you're not so big." And they both work most of the time. Actually I can't take credit because it's hubby who started it and taught me how to do it. :P
Posted by: proverbs31 | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 03:10 PM
Oh yes, I use this on Fiddledaddy too.
Posted by: Fiddledeedee (It Coulda' Been Worse) | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 03:46 PM
This works great on husbands too. :)
Posted by: Toni | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 04:58 PM
It so does work on husbands too! Haha! Can't wait to read everyone's WFMW!
Posted by: Eve | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 06:10 PM
Love it! I've used that one before. :)
Posted by: Devildogwife | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 08:00 PM
This would work for my little Bam-Bam (6), but not for my other son (he's 9 and tries his best to avoid work at all costs). It's so cute though!
I finally thought of something to join in on WFMW with, yaayyy!
Posted by: Carrie | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 08:37 PM
This does work!
I like to encourage my son to help this way, too.
~ Christina
Posted by: HsKubes | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 10:24 PM
OK, the 'this box is too heavy for you' isn't working with my three girls. They just shrug their feminine shoulders and say, "yeah, Mom, you're right".
Posted by: Leticia Velasquez | Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 07:48 PM
OK, the 'this box is too heavy for you' isn't working with my three girls. They just shrug their feminine shoulders and say, "yeah, Mom, you're right".
Posted by: Leticia Velasquez | Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 07:48 PM