"Choose Your Battles"

(An Excerpt Taken from 'My Very Own Tool Supply' a book by Sylvia A. Miller)

"Eat My Dust!"

The Running Battle

When you have minor spinal injury, as I have, you don't take too kindly to chasing youth with lightning speed through crowded supermarkets or even worse, down paved sidewalks in an attempt to ward them off before they bolt into merciless lanes of New York City Traffic!  But how do you curb their need for speed and their endless desire to explore the open spaces?  I can only tell you how I handled it with my children and you decide.

My most important tool is data collection, and while I don't have the time to sit with pad to pencil and write things down, I have come to rely on mental notes (which in my case and with the way my brain functions is not always an easy task).  Well, I have noted over time that when my boys have nothing else to do, they feel the need to "explore".  So, the choice of weapon for this battle seemed obvious: something to do.  

Each of my boys was assigned a responsibility or task.  For example, in the store, one pushed the cart and one loaded it.  They were always given packages to carry out and even around the store (i.e. a loaf of bread in one hand and the toilet paper under the other arm, if it was a minor shopping expedition).  Years later, they continue to do these things but have graduated to unloading their area and helping to unload the trunk.  They are responsible for locking and closing their own van doors (these things bought me much time in the past when I needed to assume my position -- I'm sure you are all familiar with the strategic positions each family member has when one of them is a "runner"! -- just incase they decided to revisit their adventurous side), and now they have grocery lists and they shop!

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