Brainwashing 101
It’s June first and even though I’m really supposed to write a “Dear Lina” post, I’m writing something else instead. How free I am of my own constraints! How daring.
The weather has been warm and sunny and generally gorgeous around here. I work in the garden most afternoons, sometimes with Lina, always with Lily. Yesterday Lina and I were getting ready to go out and do some watering, when I decided that she really needed to wear a hat. She prefers not to, although she’s interested enough in my cowgirl hat that if I got her a mini one I’m sure she’d wear it. Which I would love. And will do as soon as possible.
Anyway. I was searching her room for her hat, and said to her, “where’s your hat?” Except, for some reason, it came out as, “where’s your googoo hat?” Now, I truly have no idea what happened there. A momentary speaking in tongues? Channeling a 35,000 year-old spirit warrior? Vodka in my water bottle?
The effect was immediate. Lina turned to me, wide-eyed. “Googoo Hat?”
We searched high and low for the googoo hat, called out for it, wondered where it had gone. Then… I found it. The googoo hat. Lina was practically frothing at the mouth as I fastened the velcro strap under her chin. She couldn’t believe her luck. We played outside, and she never once removed the googoo hat. She didn’t even want to take it off after we came inside. I finally had to peel it off of her sweaty little head.
The fact that I can influence her so much made me a little nervous. Will I use my power for good? Was it worth it to take advantage of the googoo hat setup in order to get her to wear it? I don’t want her to get a sunburn, after all. Or am I justifying? Or did I simply get caught up in the magic of the googoo hat myself?
And then, the real question: how long will it work?
June 1st, 2007 at 14:24
For whatever it’s worth, I can still threaten to “count to three” and the boys will hop to whatever it is I’m asking. I still don’t know what I’ll do if they ever pause and ask “what happens after three?”
June 1st, 2007 at 15:26
for whatever reason, I insisted as a child that I hated scrambled eggs, so my parents sold me on “butter eggs.” I gobbled them right up. who doesn’t like butter-anything? even vegans eat fake butter. butter’s the best. more butter eggs!
same exact thing, different label. parent magic.