Motivating children is best tried before you run out of patience.
Yesterday, it was about 'Going just a bit further so you reach the top.' To a nine year old. Yeah right.
He was 'pre-motivated' too, for our hike o' the Pentlands. He had brought a toy gun and was wearing his authentic army webbing jacket thing with millions of pockets.
For a while, he was completely motivated in the wrong direction. He wanted to go and investigate the army's live firing range on the next door hill. But before the last, largest and most imposing of the three hills on the walk, he completely lost his mojo.
"What's the point? It'll be like the others. It's not as if there's a castle at the top."
"It's not as if you're ever interested, when there is."
"Don't want a ruined castle. I want a real one. With a pie shop in it."
I took the hint and rummaged around for a sandwich. I also told him it would be a lot easier if he stopped trying to carry all those heavy stones up the hill with the hope of starting avalanches.
But he held my hand on the way down.
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