Quiet Car Ride. No Duct Tape Required.

[duano]

I read this story from Parenting On Track's blog and I had to share it. I know car rides can be tough sometimes!

The other day I was driving home from the dentist with two of my children in the back seat of the car. Jessie, 4 and Elizabeth, 7 were having a grand time giggling and laughing and cuddling, as best they could given the restrictions of car seats.

I noticed that the giggles were sounding a bit strained and Jessie was on the verge of tears. A quick look in the rear view mirror revealed that Elizabeth was bored with giggling. Teasing her sister seemed like a reasonable option.

I had about 30 seconds to grab hold of a strategy that would keep us out of the Rabbit Hole or I could start a screaming match with these 2 cute kids. My strategy of choice – The Crucial C’s.

What do I know?

Elizabeth is a power child and power children look for ways to feel capable. She could pick a fight with her sister (she is certainly capable of that), or I could give her another option.

Something simple – something fun

“Hey”- I announced into the back seat- “I forgot where we are going. Elizabeth, do you remember where are we going?”

“What?” she asks with a very confused look on her face.

And so it begins. The shift which allows my very capable child to forget about teasing her sister, and shift her focus to something useful to do which keeps ALL of us out of the Rabbit Hole.

“Really- I have no idea where we are going. That happens to moms sometimes. Can you help me?”
“Really?”
“Absolutely,” as I drove past the left turn.
“Hey mom you missed the turn.”
“I did?”
“Yes you were supposed to turn back there.”
“Ok. I’ll turn around and I am going to need YOU to tell me where to go.”
A few wrong turns later, we made it home.

One strategy: The Crucial C’s.
One decision: To use it.
Result: Peace.

How do you incorporate Crucial C’s into your day and what type of shifts do you experience?

By Jennifer