Monday, April 2, 2012

The Cookie Or The Roar

I have written before about Matt and the kids' habit of having a nightly wrestle. (Actually that post wound up being more about my marriage, but also this other thing.) I never usually see the wrestle directly, but I often witness Laura and Hank dashing through other rooms of the house as part of bizarre errands or challenges. Sometimes they will race into the room where I'm sitting, minding my own business, and kiss me on the cheeks as quickly as possible before running back out singing a song. Stuff like that. I don't know, this is usually the part of the night when I'm ready to ignore them for a while.

Tonight I happened to be in our bedroom putting away laundry, so I got to witness the latest evolution of the wrestle. It's an event called The Cookie Or The Roar. In it, Matt holds out his hands with his fingers spread, having already secretly designated one finger as Cookie and another as Roar. A child ventures forward and points to a finger. If it is the Cookie, "Cookie" is announced, to general gladness. Cookie can be redeemed for a future single vanilla wafer-level cookie, or saved and banked with future Cookies to amass Double Cookie, Triple Cookie, and beyond. This banking of Cookies resulted in Matt bringing each child a whole actual doughnut the other day. They had Quadruple Cookie. I was like, "Oh, sure, Quadruple Cookie, that's a thing." So that's Cookie.

If the child selects Roar, Matt roars. Really loud, or in a really startling way. The children scream in terror. The dog hates this one.

If they select one of the other eight fingers, they have to do a physical challenge. This is what happens most of the time, obviously. And this is what struck me as hilarious. He's got them doing jumping jacks, push ups, sit ups, you name it.

And they love it. THEY LOVE IT. Tonight I saw him tell Hank to redo a set of jumping jacks because he didn't use proper form. So Hank did them again and DID THEM BETTER.

I thought about how it's a good thing for kids to have two parents. I spent all day today with the kids, the three of us. It's the first day of their spring break and we had a lovely relaxed time. We slept late, we lay on the trampoline chatting about when they were babies, we went out for sandwiches at lunch, and we went to the pool. Nothing big, but it was nice. I can do fine with them by myself. They're easy, really, and I can meet their needs and more. But Matt thinks of things I would never think of, he sees them in a slightly different way, and I know they get something different from him.

Watching them tonight, I wondered how long Laura and Hank will like this nightly wrestle/calisthenic jamboree. And not just like it, but beg for more? It has been going on for years, so perhaps it will continue to grow into something new as they grow.

Good night from the Matron family. I hope you get the Cookie.
xoxo

14 comments:

Life on The Rowland Ranch said...

Hilarious. This will for sure become part of the Rowland Family Routine. In fact, I'm waking my husband up from his deep slumber this very minute to play it with ME! :)

Camp Papa said...

I have often thought about how the kids will remember these evenings with their father, when they have his undivided attention and the delight of his imagination. I've also thought of how the "little wrestles" have evolved and will doubtless continue to evolve as their interests and needs change. They are blessed children.

delaine said...

I love the fact that they all enjoys it so much, even eleven year old Laura! Precious times with a very creative daddy. I especially love it when Hank turns on the cd player and dances during the wrestles.

Common Household Mom said...

The Cookie or the Roar. Now that is a great event. I love it!

Amy said...

Okay, I think that might just be the very ultimate in awesomeness. I suppose it should be no surprise that a game-creator can come up with games in every dimension, application, and venue! Love it beyond loving. And Rowland Ranch, there should be a "like" button for your comment! {pressing now}

Veronica said...

Love it!

AlGalMom said...

I think you & Matt could write a particularly compelling memoir-type parenting book. Just in case you've run out of things to do :)

Cassi said...

I so agree with you about the two-parent thing. My daughter (also 11) definitely benefits from that. As she says "Daddy's the fun one, but you take care of me."

Beth said...

I fully agree with AlGalMom. Also, I think you two might be some of the best parents on the planet. No joke.

Aimee said...

This is abso-freaking-lutely awesome. I am forwarding to Jason. SO fabulous.

Aimee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
gretchen said...

Damn, I want the cookie. And I want Matt to be my daddy. Okay, that didn't quite sound the way I meant it. Well you understand what I meant.

Becky said...

Oh Gretchen, I understood you PERFECTLY. LOL forever.

Cassi Renee, your girl's comment made me think of something Laura said, something like, "Dad's for stuff I want and Mom's for stuff I need." Funny.

Jane, you WOKE HIM UP? Now he'll hate me! I'm sure he was like, "Cookie or wha? You crazy, woman."

The Love Bells said...

This is a very sweet post. Am a fan of your blog. Thanks for sharing!