Pavlov Must Have Been Peeking....

[ServinGsus]

We've all heard of Pavlov and his dogs. Those simple canines have gained world wide acclaim for being predictable and always running for dinner when the bell sounds. Heck, my husband could achieve fame for this same feat! So could both of our children. It has gotten me thinking of other Pavlovian responses. For instance, southerners hear the word snow, and instantly lay down their common sense. Or I see a shoe sale, and am compelled to shop thoroughly.

There are other responses that I observe daily in my home:

• I say "nap", and my kids instantly begin preparing for their first marathon.
• I say "clean up", and my kids begin a rather intriguing game of hide and seek.
• I say "be nice", and my kids stare blankly.
• I open the refrigerator, and every living creature comes running (yes, even our canine members!).
• I close the bathroom door, and everyone in the house has to pee.
• I start the shower, and everyone in the house needs me N-O-W.

I amaze myself at how well I have conditioned the behavior of my family!

There are also those responses that are instinctual within me:

• Hubby says, "The kids are up," and I hide under a pillow.
• My kids say "I love you Mommy," and I melt.
• Someone hands me chocolate, and I fall in love.
• The kids wake up in the middle of the night, and I roll over and kick my hubby.
• Someone turns up the country music, and I start to sing along.
• I look at my family, and I start to thank God.

What Pavlovian responses do you notice among those nearest and dearest to you? In yourself? That Pavlov was really onto something...

For more humor from the Yankee Momma, grab a cup o' joe & let's dish

[Fistandantalus]

Mar. 3, 2009 at 10:41 AM

I know exactly what you're talking about!  Here are some of mine:

At exactly 4:03pm Saturday afternoon, I begin a slow downward spiral of energy that will end abruptly at 1:00pm Sunday afternoon, when I fall into a Total Mom Coma and stay that way until after the kids go to bed.

On Monday mornings I have the irresistible urge to clean out the fridge (Monday is Trash Day).

I begin dialing a phone and children who had been quietly watching Spongebob or shoving scrambled eggs into their faces all of a sudden have to be parked directly under my nose, begging for something, anything.  Then, when I hang up hastily with a "Gotta go, kids need me" they get the blank stares you were referring to.

Doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing, if my son hears any small fraction of the song "Talk Dirty To Me" he will begin singing along.

Doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing, if my daughter hears any part of the song "Thriller", she will begin "Thrillerwalking" and doing "the robot".

If a cat is a stray, my children will find him and drag him home sobbing about his poor, homeless state.

As soon as the stitches from the aforementioned stray cat's gender reassignment surgery come out, said cat will a) die sudddenly,  b) be identified as someone's lost cat or c) show off some brand-new personality defects.

As soon as I'm as busy as one human person can ever be, I'll contract either howling bronchitis or a sizzling UTI.

[MYnKURTMOM]

Mar. 3, 2009 at 1:37 PM I ask for suggestions when someone says they are hungry and get no response! I figure out something to cook..it lands on the kitchen table and someone will say..I was hungry for hamburgers, or I would have rather had pork chops! I GIVE!

the phone rings and people dont scramble to grab it, I walk from the upstairs to the kitchen answer the phone and ITS NEVER for me!

[clairandamjones]

Mar. 3, 2009 at 5:00 PM

As soon as I sit down and shut my eyes, just for a second (I work very late nights), an inevitable chaos breaks loose. 

As soon as I fall asleep, usually around 2:30 in the morning, my daughter wakes up and begs for a drink of milk.

As soon as my husband and I have five minutes to begin a decent conversation, the phone will ring.  The Boy will answer it.  We'll never get past the first sentence.

 

[livewell]

Mar. 7, 2009 at 2:41 PM

You have covered most of ours...especially the bathroom door one (I can't wait until we have the addition put on with my very own bathroom)

I am loving your journal posts!