Too Many Games?

I admit that I am one of those mothers who tries to manipulate her children by turning everything into a game.

If my children are dragging their feet getting ready for bed at night I will often blurt out, "Who can get their pajamas on the fastest?" And if one kid starts running and the other kids are still dragging their feet it usually just takes, "Oh I  guess Hayden is going to win . . . " and usually the other two start running as well.

Many times the kids have no idea there is even a game going on until, for example, at prayer time I say something like, "Oh . . . I guess Drew is winning the 'Reverence' Game right now." They had no idea the Reverence Game even existed, but if I'm lucky the other kids (not wanting to lose the reverence game) will actually decide to kneel down and fold their arms too.

The Quite Game is great as well. At the dinner table when the children are practically screaming to each other as if they are two football fields away (when actually they are only 12 inches apart) . . . sometimes I will say, " I guess Tilson is totally winning the 'Quiet' game right now." I don't know who invented the quiet game . . . but they deserve a medal. I feel as if I owe them something. All it takes sometimes is a simple, "Let's play the quiet game" and I don't need to say a thing more. The children just take over. But let's be honest . . . my kids don't play the 'Quiet Game' nearly long enough!!

It's terrible I know. I haven't really worried about this manipulation, but I think I might be using the "Game" thing just a little bit too much. This occurred to me after a conversation between Hayden and Ada this morning. Here's how it went:

Ada: "Mom, PLEASE can I have some candy!!! PLEASE!"

Mary: "Ada, what have you even eaten that's healthy today?"

Ada: " Mom! I ate an apple. Did you forget that?"

Mary: "Yes Ada, an apple is healthy. But is that all you've eaten that's healthy?"

Hayden: "Ya Ada, like . . . I have already eaten TWO healthy things today, and you have only eaten one! I am totally winning the 'healthy snack eating' game."

Mary: "Hayden . . . be nice."

Ada: "Ya Hayden . . . I am totally winning the 'Be Nice' game."

Hayden: "Ya but I am winning the 'healthy snack eating' game."

Ada: "Oh ya, . . . well I'm winning the "not healthy snack eating' game."

Mary: Thinking to herself, "No Ada . . . Mommy always wins the 'not healthy snack eating' game."

Hayden: " Ada, that is not even a good game to win!"

So true Hayden. And Oh boy . . . what on earth have I started?!