Toddler tango...

What he says: "NO!... No. NO!"  And what he means, clearly: "I would not touch that yellow shirt with a palm tree on it with a ten foot pole if it was the last shirt in the world and everyone else yearned for the same exact style.  Where do you get your complete and tragic lack of fashion sense?" 

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack.  Up, down, twirl and hop.  On, off, snuggle or complete independence.  We're in constant negotiation. 

What he says: "BOOTS!  Aucks (socks).  BOOTS!"  I try every run-around and persuasion, noting sweltering sun and Mama's sandals and then he wears me down (always) and we traipse around town, froggy boots afoot, orange polo and bright shorts.  We are a rainbow testament to toddler self assertion.

Target sent me a package of coupons.  It's designed specifically for me, as their creepy marketing and Big Brother Amazon collusion makes possible, and it's full of pull-ups and toddler "feel and learn" diapers, gimmicky hand soap and UNDERWEAR for kids.  Big business thinks we should be potty training, the boy thinks he should be in charge and I wonder if this is something I can negotiate... This whole growing up thing, can we possible slow it down just a little?

What he says: "Nana sticka more... No...."  And what he means, clearly: "No more stickers from Nana today."  One word or these new, four word phrases... He sighs, exclaims, demands.  He nudges and tests, and boundaries spring up or move around or disappear.  We dance a linguistic tango, with complexity and love, with the embrace and the theatrics.  The pace speeds.  I hold on tight.

I doubt he'd go for these.

 

Comments

[Tara]

Ahh...I'm right there with you as a minion of a Mini Toddler Dictator. Mine's 26 months old, blonde with blue eyes and extremely demanding. "Get up, Mama!" "Walk!" "Lets go." "Watch Wiggles!" She's quite the diva.

[erin]

those are great patterns. maybe if you knew he'd like the fabric?

[Vasilisa]

You've been busy while I was out of town. You have made wonderful things. I love the dress! And the box-tote for toys! And those patterns. It's really nice to be able to follow your blog again.

Both my boys are/have been potty haters. My first born never really used it, he started to use the toilet very early on. Boy #2 prefers the floor at the moment. If we ask him to sit on the potty, he will cry and then get up and do his thing on the floor. Or (in the country) in the sand pit. Or the front steps. Rather disgusting. I trust he'll learn.

[Anna]

i've just found your blog, and am happy to read another mother's thoughts about raising a toddler boy. i feel a fondness, since ours are very close in age (my boy was born 11/8/05) and development it seems...but i could never write about it as eloquently as you. thanks.

[Steph]

Toddler self assertion is cut as hell but also frustrating as hell for the parents/caregivers/other people shopping for their groceries etc but try enjoy the stubborn moments if you can cos one day it'll be a teenager yelling "I hate you!" cos you won't let him drive your car. THEN you'll be clambering for the wee guy back, tears and all.