Fight, Flight, or Freeze
Many many years ago I was taught that when confronted people will fight, flee, or freeze.
My daughter has taught me her next level approach.
Lately, she has begun a new bedtime habit. A few minutes after we tuck her into bed she turns the light back on, chooses a few books and sits down to read. She figures we won't walk by her bedroom door and notice.
But I did last night. I burst in. She took one look at me and ran through her choices: fight was out. I'm easily triple her size. She scanned the room, but I had one door blocked and her mother stood at the bathroom door. Flight was not possible.
For a quick second I thought she had chosen her only remaining option, but freeze is not in her vocabulary. Literally.
No, she took a fast look at her mother and then at me. Obviously, she had decided I was the weaker member of the parent team.
She jumped out of her chair. Smiled like a politician on the six-o'clock news. Threw open her arms and said,
"Big hugs!!!!"
It worked and I was given demerits at the last meeting of Parent's Union Local #163.
