This week’s story is an excerpt from “Stories of Wil: Puberty Part 1” (publ. July 2020)…
When I woke Wil up, he was very sluggish.
“Hey, buddy, time to wake up,” I said. I sat on the edge of his bed and tickled him lightly under his chin.
“Hmmph!” Wil turned his face into his pillow and commenced fake snoring.
“Oh Wil, I almost forgot. It’s your favorite day of the week today. It’s Monday. Happy Monday, Wil!” Wil turned his head from his pillow, opened his clenched eyes, and looked up at me.
“Ugh, Mom. It’s Friday.”
“Hmmm, I’m pretty sure it’s Monday today. Let’s go Monday!” “Mom,” he bolted upright in bed, “it’s Friday.”
“Ok, I guess it’s Friday. Ho-hum. How boring. The end of a week of school. I think the beginning is much more fun. Too bad it’s not Monday. Time to get dressed now.”
“Oh, Moooooom. Hugs now.”
“Yes, we can’t forget our hugs,” I said, and hugged him. “Ok, let’s get up and dressed and ready for our Monday.”
“Oh, Moooooom. Ok, I’ll get dressed. Go Friday!”
Later that morning as I was driving all three kids to school, Elizabeth said, “So Wil, what’s for lunch on Mondays?”
“It’s FRIDAY!” Wil replied.
“Oh, it is? Phew, I thought it was Monday,” Elizabeth said. Then as they all exited the car at school, Elizabeth said to me, “Have a great Monday, Mom!”
“You too, Elizabeth!”
“Sheesh, you guys. It’s FRIDAY! Let’s go Friday!” Wil laughed and took off running to the school.
A sluggish start can easily extend itself into a very challenging day at school for Wil. Silliness is the kryptonite to his sluggishness—it doesn’t always work, but it’s always worth a try (and the bonus is the silly start added fun for all of us). Let’s go Friday!
WILingness 