Photography Fridays ~ I do not like them, Sam I am.

We'll start by letting the photo stand alone and let your own thoughts precede my story.

This is my Sam-I-Am.

McKenna is at the age where she has just started reading Dr. Seuss books - the kinds with the real words, of course. The night before I took this picture, we read Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess.

The next morning, feeling like a champion mother, I made sure to get out of bed early enough to cook breakfast for everyone - green eggs & ham. Surprise!

Daddy-I-Am liked them.

Matthew-I-Am liked them.

McKenna-I-Am... Well...

She refused.

I quickly asked, Lord, should I choose this battle? He answered yes, you should choose this battle. We had forty-five minutes until the bus arrived and my mood considered, I chose that battle. I had the time and energy (and therefore patience) so onward we marched. Trying to set aside the fact that I was utterly disappointed that my surprise fizzled faster than the bath salts the kids got for Christmas, without factoring in my own dissatisfaction from not feeling appreciated today, we began. I put the priorities in order: (1) You have to eat a good breakfast before school. (2) This is what I cooked, therefore this is breakfast. Period. These are normal meal rules around here, so I didn't make them up for my own satisfaction. (I was well aware of my own discontentment and I was reallllly trying to keep myself out of this situation - making sure it was a parenting technique, not something for my own gratification.)

By the way, she loves "regular eggs and ham. You know, the yellow ones, Mommy?"

Fast forward 45 minutes and I told her if she didn't eat her breakfast (after which she brushes her teeth, puts her shoes on, and gathers her lunch and backpack) she would miss her bus.

Well wouldn't you know it?

The bus picked up Matthew. Not McKenna. And man, did that set her into a tailspin. 

However.

Ten minutes later, she ate almost all of her green eggs and ham, apologized to me, finished getting ready for school and I drove her to school (making sure there was no fun music or entertaining conversation in the car). Fortunately, she loves school and loves riding the bus even more, so using alternative methods for our morning routine did not reward her at all. I emailed and forewarned her teacher of our morning and her teacher replied saying she had been self-managed, good-mannered and all-around well-behaved that morning.

Perhaps it's generational.

Gee, Mom? Are you listening? Whatever that situation was that led me to be sitting at the dining room table unwilling to eat my spaghetti until at the earliest ten o'clock pm, I fully and wholeheartedly apologize for it. 

*sigh*

Every day I question, analyze and review my thoughts and actions as a mom and man, do I have a lot to learn, a lot to practice, and a lot to fix. This was a battle not for winning. This was a battle so that one day she could remember what her mom taught her when her daughter is left sitting at the table refusing...

By the way, she loved the green eggs and ham.

For the weekend, a little light reading.

I am Sam

I am Sam

Sam I am

That Sam-I-am

That Sam-I-am!

I do not like

that Sam-I-am

Do you like

green eggs and ham

I do not like them,

Sam-I-am.

I do not like

green eggs and ham.

Would you like them

Here or there?

I would not like them

here or there.

I would not like them

anywhere.

I do not like

green eggs and ham.

I do not like them,

Sam-I-am

Would you like them

in a house?

Would you like them

with a mouse?

I do not like them

in a house.

I do not like them

with a mouse.

I do not like them

here or there.

I do not like them

anywhere.

I do not like green eggs and ham.

I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you eat them

in a box?

Would you eat them

with a fox?

Not in a box.

Not with a fox.

Not in a house.

Not with a mouse.

I would not eat them here or there.

I would not eat them anywhere.

I would not eat green eggs and ham.

I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you? Could you?

in a car?

Eat them! Eat them!

Here they are.

I would not ,

could not,

in a car

You may like them.

You will see.

You may like them

in a tree?

d not in a tree.

I would not, could not in a tree.

Not in a car! You let me be.

I do not like them in a box.

I do not like them with a fox

I do not like them in a house

I do mot like them with a mouse

I do not like them here or there.

I do not like them anywhere.

I do not like green eggs and ham.

I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

A train! A train!

A train! A train!

Could you, would you

on a train?

Not on a train! Not in a tree!

Not in a car! Sam! Let me be!

I would not, could not, in a box.

I could not, would not, with a fox.

I will not eat them with a mouse

I will not eat them in a house.

I will not eat them here or there.

I will not eat them anywhere.

I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Say!

In the dark?

Here in the dark!

Would you, could you, in the dark?

I would not, could not,

in the dark.

Would you, could you,

in the rain?

I would not, could not, in the rain.

Not in the dark. Not on a train,

Not in a car, Not in a tree.

I do not like them, Sam, you see.

Not in a house. Not in a box.

Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.

I will not eat them here or there.

I do not like them anywhere!

You do not like

green eggs and ham?

I do not

like them,

Sam-I-am.

Could you, would you,

with a goat?

I would not,

could not.

with a goat!

Would you, could you,

on a boat?

I could not, would not, on a boat.

I will not, will not, with a goat.

I will not eat them in the rain.

I will not eat them on a train.

Not in the dark! Not in a tree!

Not in a car! You let me be!

I do not like them in a box.

I do not like them with a fox.

I will not eat them in a house.

I do not like them with a mouse.

I do not like them here or there.

I do not like them ANYWHERE!

I do not like

green eggs and ham!

I do not like them,

Sam-I-am.

You do not like them.

SO you say.

Try them! Try them!

And you may.

Try them and you may I say.

Sam!

If you will let me be,

I will try them.

You will see.

Say!

I like green eggs and ham!

I do!! I like them, Sam-I-am!

And I would eat them in a boat!

And I would eat them with a goat...

And I will eat them in the rain.

And in the dark. And on a train.

And in a car. And in a tree.

They are so good so good you see!

So I will eat them in a box.

And I will eat them with a fox.

And I will eat them in a house.

And I will eat them with a mouse.

And I will eat them here and there.

Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!

I do so like

green eggs and ham!

Thank you!

Thank you,

Sam-I-am

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Key words: spirited, hard-headed, strong-willed. Friends said: we all have one, don't we?

I'm sure there is scripture for this type of situation, this breed of child, this season of motherhood, somewhere; but I'm still searching for just the right one... if you know one, shoot it my way?