How You Do What You Do

by Pat Antonopoulos

Nana: "How about some oatmeal for breakfast?"
Grandson: "How about a cookie?"
Nana: "How about a cookie AFTER the oatmeal?"
Grandson: "How about a cookie now?"
Nana: "How about oatmeal AND a cookie for breakfast?"
Grandson: "How about that cookie now?"

This being said as he walked to Nana's special Granny-Cupboard.

SPE
Sammy, age 2 1/2, has the condition called SPE. He is always Specific, Persistent and Expectant.
He has it dialed:
Ask for exactly what you want.
Continue until the message is heard.
Fully expect that the good will happen.
And, as his three year old cousin once decided, "Nanas don't say 'No'. They can't. They are Nanas."

Pretty amazing lesson here.

Imagine what our relationships would be like if we adopted Sammy's SPE. No more hinting, pouting, whining, beating around that overused bush. Straight out expression of our wants and needs. Straight out and honest effort to say what needs to be said. Then we continue with calm persistence until we are heard. No anger. No shouting. No "Why-don't-you-ever-listen-to- me?" Express the need with total belief that the listener will respond.

And then go stand by the right cupboard fully expecting that the good will happen.

A little child shall lead them, right?