Everyone Needs a Little Encouragement Now and Then!

I have to talk about my dog for a minute. Nappy is my buddy! He's with me all day long- no matter what room I go into he follows! He wakes me up in the morning, he greets me happily when I get home from wherever, he is the most loyal dog I know! Nappy also suffers from a low self esteem, I think. He has short little legs, and now that he's getting older (8 years in March) he doesn't have the spry-ness he once did.

He used to be able to jump up onto the bed. Now he needs a stool to get up. It used to be easy for him to jump onto the couch, now he needs lots of encouragement. I do mean LOTS of encouragemet! He will approach the couch and look up at me as if to say, "Ok, I'm ready to get up now, but don't help me." He doesn't like me to pick him up to help him get up. When he first started this, I was at a loss as to what he wanted. He obviously wanted to get up, but didn't want my help, so how was this to be accomplished? Then I realized, he just needed a little encouragement! So, I started the ritual of saying, "You can do it, Nappy! Good Boy! Jump! Come on! You can do it!" He gets very excited and starts to "practice" jumping. The more I encourage, the more excited he gets until finally, in a triumphant moment, he jumps. He usually makes it. When he doesn't, he gets discouraged and looks at me like, "well, now what?" So, I start encouraging him more. This usually works, and rarely does he not make it the second time. Once in a while, though, he will just not have it in him and he puts his head down and goes to lay on the floor with his legs splayed out behind him like a chicken, and his head on his paws with the most dejected look!

The reason I bring this up is because I've noticed the same tendencies in my little guy, Eason. He is such a happy- go- lucky kid, yet sometimes he needs some encouragement. Especially during homework time. He inherited a lack of attention span when it comes to homework, (a double wammy from both his parental units!) and needs a literal cheering section every night! "Come on, Eason! You're doing great! Now do the next problem! That's awesome!" I get afraid when he gets into the "real" world, he'll be sitting at some drudgery desk job waiting for his boss to come cheer him on! But, isn't that my job, to be a cheering section for my kid? I cheered him on when he was potty training, I cheered him on when he learned to ride a 2-wheeler, it's all part of the job description, I guess- cheering the kid and the husband on to greater heights!

I just have one question..... who cheers the mom on?