Tots & Synchronized Take-aways

True Tot Story #1:  Our toddler is sitting on his living room's substantial ottoman chillin’ to Daniel the Tiger. Mommy and two grandmas are also in the room. Nana bought him the coolest, new, black suede, TOMS shoes at the second-hand store. We are all eager to see if they fit, and try-on time seems ripe:
     Let’s see if your new shoes fit!
     The immediate reply is: No.
     Aw, come on. Let’s just put one on, real fast. Mommy will take it right off.
     No.
     Nana and DeDe watch for the moment of truth. Uncomfortable shoe times fill all of our memory banks, so he ain’t budging. A creative thought enters our minds:
     JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES and Mommy will put the shoes on, real fast.
     To our bewilderment, he barely flinches and turns onto his stomach. He not only closes his eyes, but covers them; AND, he lifts his feet into the air assuming the pose: Okay, I’ll cooperate…. but only with my eyes closed. Put the shoes on already.

Synchronized sweeties (@ 22 yrs ago--see pic below)

     Mommy quickly slips the shoes on… and they fit like a charm! He likes them and actually leaves the TOMS on.
     Astonished Mommy asks: From where did that eye-closing idea come? And why did it work?
     This incident reminds me of a years-ago commercial, with hard-to-crack little Mikey being coaxed to take a scrumptious Life cereal bite. Mikey finally eats a spoonful, smiles, and big brother triumphantly exclaims: He likes it!!! Mikey likes it!!!

Synchronized take-away: 1) If at first you don't succeed, think creatively.
2) Eyes might need to be closed AND covered to soften some risky endeavors! 

True Tot Story #2:  Names are changed to protect the not-so-innocent:
     Scrub, scrub, two mischievous young tikes in a tub. One is Daniel, the other Grace. Says Daniel to himself, Wouldn’t it be fun to pee?
     Up Daniel stands and out comes the lemony stream; and better yet, onto sweet Grace.
     Tee-hee, pee-he, on me!! thinks Grace.
     Sweet Grace won’t be outdone. Up she stands and out comes her lemony stream. A stereo of tee-hees... as Mommy/sitter sees… the urine-trouble bubbles of sweet Daniel and Grace.

Synchronized take-away:  1) Two wrongs do not make a right, and 2) The PEN IS mightier than the sword.

Synchronized "face-making" (lemon juice-induced!) tasting the "other" cereal