Ah Hah!

Okay, I might be a little late on the learning curve on this one, but just the other night at dinner I had a major "ah hah!" moment with the boys as we sat down to eat our spaghetti and meatball supper.

I have been really working with them on their table manners (i.e. not climbing out of their chairs, not crawling on the table, using their utensils for EATING with, etc). And I have tried everything to get a desirable result; setting an example, barking orders such as "sit in your chair!", bribery with yummy deserts, you get the picture.

Then suddenly tonight I had the idea that my mood and tone may be more effective and pursuasive than all of the above tactics. So, I went out of my comfort zone and natural instinct and when they started their wild animal behavior I just starting to sing "On top of spaghetti" and suddenly I had a captive and obedient audience. I even had them improvising lyrics and chowing down on the spaghetti. Just another tool in my momma toolbox!

On Top of Spaghetti:
On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table,
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden,
And under a bush,
And then my poor meatball,
Was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty
As tasty could be,
And then the next summer,
It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered,
All covered with moss,
And on it grew meatballs,
And tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatball,
Whenever you sneeze.