No Whinging Friday

No Whinging Friday

I picked up the kids from school yesterday on a brilliant, sunny autumn (I just learned they never say "fall" here) day. I was excited to hear what Fiona and Finley did in school. "Mom," said Finn, "I need a shirt in my bag. We went to the beach and I was too hot." Fiona said, "I'm starving. I don't like ham sandwiches, and you gave me a ham sandwich – again." And I thought, "Oh my God. You ingrates. We're living near the beach in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and you're complaining."

Of course they're complaining. They're kids. Shouldn't grown-ups know better, though? I've sat in on, and contributed to enough gripe sessions to know adults are often no better than the tykes. We just register our grievances differently. What if we all had one complaint-free day a week?

I told my kids I was starting, "No Whinging Friday." ("whinge" is the Briticism for "complaint," and commonly used in NZ). I even taught the kids hand motions, which really got them going. Of course, Finley had to make up his own version, because he's, well....Finley. The slogan didn't stop the kids from whinging yesterday, but I love the idea. Maybe if we practice the moves long enough, it'll stick.

WHINGING

FRIDAY

No Whinging Friday

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