The Flattery Strategy
A positive way of getting out of anything …
Incompetence or flattery- which strategies work in your home?
Growing up, my children’s first approach to maintaining inertia was the incompetence strategy.
“I don’t know how to … (fill in with undesired task).”
“I don’t know how to make my bed.”
Variation: “I’m terrible at folding laundry.”
An effective incompetence strategy is all about presentation — Let’s go for meek, helpless, and innocently, sweetly, ignorant.
My son was skilled, but my co-parent was the master.
“Honey, I don’t know how to fix a toilet.” Or put the kids to bed. Or…
Shrugs. Walks away.
Fuming. Feeling the mood buster “Can we talk about this?” burning inside.
Just when I am at my wit’s end, out comes the flattery strategy.
“But, mom, you’re so much better at it,” with a grin.
“But, honey, you’re great at fixing things,” with a kiss.
