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August 6, 2008 Wee Treehugger 
We were in the mall and I was trying to find a way to convince Frances to walk. As is the case with many children, she can run, jump, skip, dance and turn cartwheels all afternoon, but can scarcely walk for fifteen minutes before declaring herself exhausted and asking for a lift. I needed to get groceries and pick up some books on hold at the library and had foolishly forgotten to bring my cart, so was in the position of lugging several heavy hardcovers to the grocery store, and Frances was asking me to carry her. "Oh sweetie, look at everything I'm carrying! I can't pick you up," I said. Just then she stopped. "Mummy, is this a real tree?" she asked me. "Yes, it is." "But it's inside!" "I know. Isn't that silly?" She nodded. "I like this tree. Can I touch it?" I nodded, and she petted it, then wrapped her arms around it and gave it a hug, resting her cheek against the bark with her eyes closed. Onlookers grinned at her. "Oh Mummy, there's another one!" She ran to the next, and hugged it too. "How many do you think we can find between here and the grocery store?" I asked her. "Can you count them?" Off she ran, all requests to be carried forgotten in the excitement of tree-counting (there were eleven, we discovered), and this ploy worked all the way through all the errands right until we left the mall, at which point she promptly asked me to carry her again. Still. Success! I congratulated myself on being such a creative, thoughtful mother, who came up with something educational and positive that would get her child moving on her own steam and at great speed through all the errands she had to do. Every time since, when we've gone back, she insists on stopping, counting, and hugging every tree. It is very sweet. And by and large, it slows us down. "Mummy, it's another tree!" She stops, pets it, gives it a lingering hug. Onlookers grin. "So it is," I say, looking at Marvin II's clock. "Come on sweetie, it's lunch time. Let's go home." "Oh, there's another one!" Off she runs. I sigh. Posted by Andrea at August 6, 2008 8:39 AM under Single Momming , The Green Family EMAIL this entry (comments fields are below this section) Comments Sigh. Every great solution contains within itself new puzzles to solve. At least this one doesn't involve killer bees. ;) Posted by: theboyfriend, a.k.a. Greg at August 6, 2008 8:29 AM
Such a great idea Mommy. Next time you go please take the camera! :) Posted by: Nicole at August 6, 2008 8:42 AM
Ooohhh... would love to see a photo of that! Posted by: Miche at August 6, 2008 3:02 PM
It is the flipside to choosing your battles and having it come back to bite you - at least this one has beauty about it! Posted by: jeanie at August 6, 2008 4:16 PM
"I congratulated myself on being such a creative, thoughtful mother, who came up with something educational and positive that would get her child moving on her own steam and at great speed through all the errands she had to do." I do this all the time! Objectively, of course. ;) Posted by: Kia at August 6, 2008 6:37 PM
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