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Every other week or so, my four-year-old, Luke, latches on to a new movie or show and it becomes his entire world. He always has a favorite character and suddenly I find myself calling him “Chick Hicks”, “Cranky the Crane”, or “Randall” before he will respond to me. As luck would also have it, his favorite character is usually the villain or just generally obnoxious. I am usually assigned a part to play as well and we pretend away.
One week, “Snow White,” became our stage and setting. Luke was “Grumpy”, one of the dwarfs, and I was to be Snow White. I quickly found that my role required that I talk exactly like Snow White. This entailed speaking high-pitched and super sweet. If I forgot to talk correctly, I was severely chastised.
One morning, we were pretend playing and I was saying things like, “Oh Grumpy, come put your pants on,” or “Please pass me that train,” in my Snow White voice. Suddenly Luke misbehaved, and I said something like, “Hey, Luke, no, don’t do that!” I stopped. I had talked in my normal voice, and compared to Snow White, I sounded like an ogre. Did I sound like that all the time? No wonder my kids didn’t listen to me!
I started to notice during my stint as Snow White that I actually got some quicker, happier results from my children. Was it Snow White or was it my tone? Friedrich Nietzsche said, “We often refuse to accept an idea merely because the tone of voice in which it has been expressed is unsympathetic to us.”
Do my children know, from the tone of my voice, that I love them? Do they know, from the tone of my voice, that I am sympathetic to them? Instead of Snow White or Mother Ogre, perhaps there is a middle ground. I have found that a tone of kind firmness, mixed with patience and love, and sprinkled with humor makes all the difference.
QUESTION: Do you feel that how you speak to your children makes a difference in how they respond to you?
CHALLENGE: Try to reflect the affection you feel for your children in speaking to them and asking them to do something.
Very cute! My little Ronny does the same thing! Called him ‘Thomas’ (the train) for weeks. I think we all should watch HOW we say things just as much as we watch WHAT we say, if not more.
Best article I’ve seen on the Power.. in sometime. Thanks!
This article is darling – clever and humorous, yet sobering and to the point. It”s nice to read this author’s articles because they are down to earth and upbeat. Keep them coming!
You know, I read this about a month ago I believe and one evening I was at home with the kids and it was time for bed. (I secretely dread bedtime, because my patience is usually gone.) My husband wasn’t around and I knew I was going to need something extra to get us through the routine. This article came to my mind and I told the kids I was going to be Snow White and that they each could pick a dwarf to be. We had a Silly, a Sleepy, and a Happy. They made me read bedtime stories in the voice of Snow White and the evening went really well. So thank you for that great idea. It helped me keep my tone and patience in check.
However there are other times where I feel like the mean witch and I refer to myself as Malificent. When my kids are being really naughty I ask them if they want me to turn into a “mean witch,” because I really don’t want to but will if I need too. They usually snap out of it by then.
Thanks again for the write up.
I realize what an ogre I sound like when I hear my kids repeating things I’ve said. Thanks for the reminder “Do my children know, by the tone of my voice, that I love them?”
Such a great article, and loved the comments added to it, too. Thanks you!