Summer "Fun"...

This week was officially the start of Riley's summer vacation. Yee-ha!  I decided to give him a few days to relax and unwind (Riley World translation: YouTubing and video watching to his heart’s content).

Yesterday I decided I should break the news to him that we would actually be working on some things over the summer. He was eating one of his three lunches...hot dogs. Actually just wieners (plain; boiled not grilled) as he does not like the bun but hot dogs sound much more appealing than wieners if you are so inclined. I digress.

Hmmmm...don't these look yummy?!?!?

Fresh out of the water. Can you see the steam?

One of the most valuable things I have learned over the years is that it is all in the delivery and by that I mean the “tone” of your voice regardless of what you are saying. Trust me…this little tactic will work for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!

So I start out the conversation by enthusiastically saying: "Guess what we're going to do this summer?" (That caught his interest. See…I told you it would work.)
R:         What???  (Sounding very hopeful.)

Me:       You can help me and dad by starting to take out the garbage!  

(I put an emphasis on “help” because that’s what all the books say to do. Apparently kids will be much more willing if they feel they are “helping” you.)

R:         I will be cranky!  

(Quite emphatically and that pretty much says it all doesn’t it?) 

(Not to be phased by his reply I continue…) 

Me:       AND I am going to teach you how to do laundry! We can do it together. Won’t that be fun! 

(Yes that’s what I said. Hey, he usually likes to do things with me and besides…I was so upbeat how could it not be “fun”!)

R:         Yes…that will be fun. (Sounded a little unsure…followed by)  I’m cranky. 

(Ok so he was starting to get a little agitated but I wasn’t finished yet so I continued…) 

Me:      Then you can learn how to wash the rice so you can make it whenever you want oyako donburi. 

(A Japanese rice bowl dish R likes. Of course his is an adapted version. I am so “clever” using something he likes as leverage? Sarcasm pouring off that last sentence.)

R:         I’m eating! I don’t want to talk anymore thank you!

(No problem. I’ll talk…you can listen. Tee hee. Kidding. That was R’s way of saying he’d had enough so I backed off but not before giving him a timeframe for what I talked at him about cause that's how I do things. *wink*)

Me:       How about we start on July 2^nd?  Does that sound good??? (After all July 1^st is a holiday in Canada.)  

R:         That sounds good to me.  (Relief in his voice. Probably knew I would finally stop talking.)  

See?  It’s all in the delivery. One of the great things about R is his enthusiasm…well at least until such time that we actually have to start doing. I am sure I will have much to blog about once we get started so stay tuned.

Have you got any "fun" things planned over the summer?