MOTHERHOOD DIARIES | Learn politics from the short ones

My husband and I, like perhaps a lot of the world, was discussing Trump the other evening and his particular game of politics. How he managed to get his way and actually win an election. How he gets his agendas through. Put this topic within a group and we could go on for hours.

Here's one thing we failed to notice, it's not the big people that we need to watch and discuss about politics. It's the short ones (aka munchkins/children/plebs/little people) that we have to look out for. For they have mastered this art of politics without anyone teaching it to them. Have you ever noticed?

Some rules of politics or art of war.

1. Divide and conquer

The inevitable use of "but mama said we can have KFC!" as a bluff to the father.

Those topics where they know perhaps the parents aren't usually aligned on. Bedtime, junk food, TV time. They will ask the one that will grant them these lovely things with less barriers.

My firstborn had the nerve to giggle when he got his way and looked at me with those cheeky eyes that he won this round.

2. Finding the opponent's weakness

They figure out between the parents, who is the weakest link. Who will bend and say yes eventually.

They know when to strike, which is usually when you're exhausted coming in through the door after work.

And by the time you realise that you've been duped, it's usually too late to pull back on your word.

3. Bullying

Some may call it childhood tantrum but I call it a bullying tactic. That meltdown that occurs and it's a battle of sheer wills that goes on until one side caves. If they pick their moment right, like in public, then they usually get their way. Seriously how many of you will stand there waiting for their tantrum to end?

4. And finally…..Escalation

When all things have failed, the parents keep saying no and they really really want it. So what do they do? They escalate by standing in front of the grandparents and complain with those puppy dog eyes. These grandparents, which are equivalent to the senior management layer or high courts, with their limited view of the entire story fall for it! And then it turns into a trial where you have to present your side of the story for the jury to make a verdict.

So as much as we need to watch the big people that may eventually affect our way of life or our government, but there is the world of the 'short ones'. Look out for it. They are watching, waiting, ready to attack and no matter how tuned you are to them, they will always have a game up their sleeve to play that last card. It's war I tell you!