My Kid, I’ve Got Nothing On Him
Today was crazy busy. Getting ready for fundraiser event. Working on new album, new record deal, touring dates, etc. My son had swim class after school. I had a meeting at 1 that ran long. I was a few minutes late picking up my son, but, was focused on getting him to swim. From the second he got in the car he started. “I don’t want to go to swimming. I don’t want to go to swimming.” He began to cry “I don’t want to go to swimming” over and over. I tried to reason with him. “You need to learn to swim so you can go to pool parties with Maggie and Janie” (his close friends) “if you learn to swim you can go clamming with Grampy in the ocean.” I even tried “If you learn to swim, some day, you can swim with dolphins” The crying didn’t stop. I was so tired after my day I didn’t want to go to swim. but, now I had to. I couldn’t let him think if he threw a fit, he would get what he wanted. “Sometimes, sweetheart, we have to do things we don’t want to.” Nothing worked. WALKING ACROSS PARKING LOT, ALL THE WAY INTO THE Y, HE CRIED “I don’t want to go to swim”.
We were late. He was only going to be in the water for 15 minutes. I found his teacher and whispered to her “I realize he only has a few minutes of class left, but, he has to get in the water”. She was so sweet - “Is he scared?” she asked. Then he started “I don’t want to swim”. I looked at him, then at her, “this is why. He can’t get his way by throwing a fit”. She understood and took him by the hand to the pool. He did good for the first bit as I exited pool area to cry. When I regained my composure, I walked to the glass to peek in. He started with her “I don’t want to jump in. I don’t want to kick. I don’t want to ……” Class was over. I thanked her and had him apologize to her for arguing.
It was so stressful. I always thought I was strong willed and relentless. My kid shows me, I’ve got nothing on him.
