Oliver Twist?

My 3 year-old has control issues. It’s actually pretty amusing since it’s usually over silly things. But I, the No-Fun & Not-Fair Moma, refuse to let him win. I find it funny because I anticipate what he’s going to say. It’s always over food—cereal, snacks, milk, you-name-it. It doesn’t matter how much I give him to begin with, he’ll always say, “I didn’t want that much.” This translates into: “I want more than you just gave me.” He says he wants it big & wild. I can pour him a bowlful of Cheerios, and he’ll beg for just one more because he didn’t want that much. I tell him that it’s pretty silly to get so worked up over one itty bitty Cheerio. It happens just about every time, and every time I give him the same choice:

1.) You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit, or

2.) I take it away and you don't get it at all.

He always settles on #2 and is quite happy. He might have to sit there and sulk silently for a bit, but he always comes around and eats with a smile… I guess he has to wait just to make sure enough time has passed that his pride isn’t in danger of being hurt!

This evening we were completely out of milk, and so we were having a milk crisis. In our state of milk-emergency, we drove to the gas station to buy some. I figured I’d pay the little bit more for a couple gallons to get us by until we make a Costco or Wal-Mart trip. As soon as we got home, the kids were ready to have some. I poured four cups and divvied them up. Of course, as expected, B says, “I didn’t want that much. May I please have a little bit more?” Impressed by the good manners (but still not willing to lose the battle of Little-Bit-Mores), I took his cup and said “Oh, I’m sorry! Let me see…” I turned around, set the cup down on the counter, picked up the milk jug (the lid still on), set down the milk jug, picked up his cup, turned around and gave it back to him. I hadn’t put any more milk in it, but I guess it looked much better to him. After he got it back, he said, “Now, let me see... Wow!!!” He felt victory. So did I. :-) (I guess it’s all perspective!) Of course, then he thought that blue milk would be nice because it would match his cup. He asked if I’d put in a little bit of those droppy color things. I did not get out the food coloring; he did not get the blue milk. But he also did not even bother trying to fight for it. He was just happy to be drinking all that big & wild milk I had put in his cup.

When it came time to brush his teeth tonight, he called me into the bathroom to help him. He decided we needed to go over some rules before brushing his teeth. (I’m sure it was in an effort to stall bedtime a little.) Getting a very serious look on his face, pointing his finger up into the air, and nodding his head, he said, “Now, Moma, we need to talk about the rules. Please and thank you are the magic rules. These are very important. Now, there are other rules, too. Like there’s also the… toothbrush rule. And the toothpaste rule. And the towel rule. And the sink rule. And the water rule. And the soap rule…” While he’s saying all these very important rules, he’s talking very s-l-o-w-l-y and he’s looking around for what he can mention next. After these were all said, I thought he was done. I was wrong. “Please put down the toothbrush, Moma. We need to talk about the last rule. Now the last rule is… very important. The last rule is… We need to talk about the last rule. It is… the last rule is Don’t spill.” I said, “Okay” and he let me brush his teeth. After he was in bed and I was turning out the light, he reminded me (still nodding his head and still holding up his finger), “Remember Moma. The last rule is ‘Don’t spill.’ It is a very good rule!” I agree, that is definitely a very good rule. Unfortunately it is one that probably gets broken daily at our house!

.............................................................................