From Sensai to Santa

lev·er·age [lev-er-ij, lee-ver-]
noun, verb, -aged, -ag·ing.
–noun
1. the action of a lever.
2. the mechanical advantage or power gained by using a lever.
3. power or ability to act or to influence people, events, decisions, etc.; sway: Being the only industry in town gave the company considerable leverage in its union negotiations.
4. the use of a small initial investment, credit, or borrowed funds to gain a very high return in relation to one's investment, to control a much larger investment, or to reduce one's own liability for any loss.

Leverage or what some might call guilt, comes in many forms and people need it sometimes to be able to focus their energy and attention on making good decisions.  As a mom, I use all of the tools at my disposal to be creative in my use of guilt to manage my 6 year old and his tendency to be hedonistic.

"What would Sensai say?" is a question that we get a lot of mileage out of with my son when he refuses to take the clothes that he has stripped off up stairs to the hamper or when he says, "He is not MY dog!" and is more then willing to let the pooch go hungry.


"I Like Rocks!"



I love the holiday season for many reasons.  A new reason for me is that I can use Santa as leverage to get some pretty good work out of my little bon vivant.  "You have to clean your room!  Santa worked hard on the toys he gives and he wouldn't be happy to see you mistreating the toys you already have.  What if he just brings you rocks for Christmas?"  "I don't want to clean my room!!!"  Stomp, Stomp, Stomp.  "I like rocks.  Rocks is fine!"  "OK, I will support your decision to get rocks for Christmas, if that is what you really want."

Now, I am sure that some of you might be bristling at this conversation but it really works and, for the most part, doesn't leave a psychic dent of any kind.  Scuff maybe, but a little scuffing here and there is character building.  For my son, the rules for the cleaning of his room are simple and straight forward, he cleans a predesignated area and if this is done on his own, thus showing me that he is trying and motivated to do what he has to, then he will have earned the help from master cleaners such as myself.  That is a good deal when your mom is not willing to clean your entire room for you. 

We are pretty easy when it comes to the cleaning of the room.  We only ask that it be cleaned when an eminent danger exists upon entering.  There is nothing as painful as the Lego firearm that has found its way under your bare foot and has been plunged deeply into your flesh.  Then to add insult to injury, as you try to reduce the pain by lifting your leg, you loose your balance and are forced to steady yourself once more on the toes of the injured foot.  This is when a bright green rectangular object of hard plastic is thrust into the space between your toes.  Did I mention that often your son will be laughing at this whole thing until he realizes that it is real and it will most certainly lead to a call to clean!

Anyhoo.



Black Belt Leverage

My point is that well placed people of influence can be amazing time and emotional outburst savers.  My last "Clean you room" directive took an entire day but ended with my son being crazy proud that Santa would bring him "good toys" and that he would be giving away many of his old toys to kids who didn't get very much for Christmas.  So there ya go.  A clean room, burgeoning pride, a random act of kindness, and a moral lesson to boot.  This is why I love Santa, Sensai, Gramma and Grampa, Teacher, Policeman, Fireman, and a host of others who can give me the leverage that a parent just can't seem to conjure up.

Thanks you to all of my leverage, whoever you are!

Monkey Queen