My Choice MindSet (MCMS)
"Give me your mobile, daddy", asked my son within mins of getting into the car. It had rained heavily the previous night and I offered to drop him to school instead of his usual cycle ride.
A peppy number started playing on FM as I turned the ignition on. I glanced to see the artist and album on the music system display only to see it change to "Blue Tooth Device connected!"
My son had connected my mobile and was busy surfing Spotify to fetch his playlist. I realised he found it when I heard a "Beep"! His choice for the day, 'Fantasy' was on the air.
I usually like his choice and joined him to enjoy the music as we pulled out onto the main road. "Buddy, could we stop with one song as I want to share something with you before you run off to school?", I asked. His silence was deemed to be accepted as his "Yes"!
The song completed as we were approaching the school main gate. I had max 3-4 mins of father-son time to register my observation and if I was to be lucky, possibly impart a lifelesson through that conversation.
"Did you not like the peppy number that was playing on the radio?" I asked the early-teen who replied with an universal, "Why (Do you ask?)" with a complementary wierd look!
"It was a nice song", I said. "Well I wanted to listen to something I like. Also, I actually did not catch what song was playing, anyway!", pat came his response.
I shared my observation that he does this everytime we get into the car and it was developing into an habit. Not only was he missing out on local music on radio but also depriving others to listen to their choice at times. I further explained that this habit, of his, might actually carry forward to other things in life. He might end up losing out on opportunities even!
That's all I had time for and I felt it might have been an overkill for the nineth grader. But, his silent exit and "got it" look gave me a feeling that the he got the message.
Now, I better watchout for a return favor when I tune into "Happy" by Pharell Williams for the millionth time!!