I have to talk about my dog for a minute. Nappy is my buddy! He’s with me
all day long- no matter what room I go into he follows! He wakes me up in the
morning, he greets me happily when I get home from wherever, he is the most
loyal dog I know! (see picture sleeping Nappy ) Nappy also suffers from a low
self esteem, I think. He has short little legs, and now that he’s getting older
(8 years in March) he doesn’t have the spry-ness he once did.
He used to be able to jump up onto the bed. Now he needs a stool to get up.
It used to be easy for him to jump onto the couch, now he needs lots of
encouragement. I do mean LOTS of encouragemet! He will approach the
couch and look up at me as if to say, “Ok, I’m ready to get up now, but don’t
help me.” He doesn’t like me to pick him up to help him get up. When he
first started this, I was at a loss as to what he wanted. He obviously wanted
to get up, but didn’t want my help, so how was this to be accomplished?
Then I realized, he just needed a little encouragement! So, I started the
ritual of saying,
“You can do it, Nappy! Good Boy! Jump! Come on! You can do it!” He gets very
excited and starts to “practice” jumping. The more I encourage, the more
excited he gets until finally, in a triumphant moment, he jumps. He usually
makes it. When he doesn’t, he gets discouraged and looks at me like,
“well, now what?” So, I start encouraging him more. This usually works,
and rarely does he not make it the second time. Once in a while, though,
he will just not have it in him and he puts his head down and goes to lay
on the floor with his legs splayed out behind him like a chicken, and his
head on his paws with the most dejected look!
The reason I bring this up is because I’ve noticed the same tendencies
in my little guy, Eason. He is such a happy- go- lucky kid, yet sometimes
he needs some encouragement. Especially during homework time. He inherited
a lack of attention span when it comes to homework, (a double wammy from
both his parental units!) and needs a literal cheering section every night! “Come
on, Eason! You’re doing great! Now do the next problem! That’s awesome!”
I get afraid when he gets into the “real” world, he’ll be sitting at some drudgery
desk job waiting for his boss to come cheer him on! But, isn’t that my job, to
be a cheering section for my kid? I cheered him on when he was potty training,
I cheered him on when he learned to ride a 2-wheeler, it’s all part
of the job description, I guess- cheering the kid and the husband on to
greater heights!
I just have one question….. who cheers the mom on?
