Step 97: A Challenger Appears

Oh what a day. Today was a day of running after T and repeating myself 800 times, just to have to run after her anyway. There was also some reverse psychology.

T has reached the stage in our relationship where she's begun testing me. I knew it was coming, and so far it's been hilariously frustrating.

Lesson's she has learned:

1. We do NOT chase the cats. Once they run away, we leave them alone, because it means they're done. (This is especially important with Toes, as he WILL bite if he's pushed too far.)

2. The unfinished and there fore unsafe for a baby back staircase will not be used by anyone under the age of 9. If such shenanigans occur, the underaged person in question WILL be escorted back from whence she came post haste.

3. There will be no strangling of the cats, no matter whether they are running or not.

4. One lollipop is plenty. You can't "just have emmyems" instead.

5. I will always be more patient than you about nap time. You will always succumb to the back patting and silence.

6. You better run, I'm gonna getchoo!

Lessons I learned:

1. A three year old caught doing something she knows is wrong is fully capable of making something up. For example, if she's caught using the back staircase, she WILL tell you she was "just trying to get the baww" even though you know for certain the ball in question was in her hand the entire time she was headed toward, started down, then came scrambling back up the Forbidden Staircase.

2. If you tell her to put her slippers on, and she says no, try telling her she'd better NOT put them on. This also works with her dinner, picking her toys up, and just about anything she initially refuses to do. Reverse psychology is your friend. For now.

3. It's a good thing toddlers don't weigh much, because physically removing them from situations will be necessary more than a few times a day.

4. You better run, I'm gonna getchoo!

5. Sweet, sweet bedtime.

Anyway, as I said, she's just testing me, and I've been consciously consistent with my reactions, so she's catching on that I mean what I say, and I will follow through. I'll still be glad when this part is over, I don't like having to Set Boundaries and Uphold House Rules every second. Sometimes you CAN eat six wowwipops in a row, dangit. >:|

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