Writer's Notebook... Persuasion

Kids our age usually try to persuade their parents to give them whatever they want. Most even have their parents "under their spell" to the extent that if the kid throws a tantrum then the parents will give in and give them what they want.


When I was younger, I never had crying fits when I could not get my way because that simply did not work. My mother would never give in. She is just as hard headed as I am. I tried a couple times, but after that, since crying did not work, I quit whining about what I could not have. I guess I was not as good as persuading my parents as other kids were.


Now that I am older, I have gotten better at persuading my parents to let me hang out with friends or whatever else I want to do. I usually persuade them to believe that I have all my homework done. I usually do, but occasionally I have to persuade them that I have all my work and chores done.


Persuasion is a powerful method and can be used in good and bad ways, but for kids persuasion is usually good.

Writer's notebook... Commitments

The athletes that compete at the Olympic level give up regular life styles. They have to spend long hours everyday practicing and working hard. They might not get to see their family often. To me that would mean total commitment and dedication to the sport.


Another commitment that is closely related to being an Olympic athlete is being married. Someone who is married might have to change his or way of life to make the other person happy. The husband may not like his wife's relatives, but is willing to visit with them just to make her happy.


Couples fight a lot and may come to the thought of divorce, but if they are really committed, just like Olympic athletes are to their sport, the couple will find a rational solution to make them both happy. Being an Olympic athlete is difficult but so is being married.