Good-bye toddlerhood. Hello preschooler. Hello whiny. Hello Wonderful, Great Ideas. Hello logical arguments. Hello independence (when it suits him).
Up until this point, most phases have been gradual allowing me to somewhat ease into things. This one decided to smack me upside the head as I staggered in exhausted from work one day.
The second he moved up to the preschool, he went through a drastic change. He wants to do everything himself and when I say everything, I mean everything. I had to draw the line on him trying to he me change into my pajamas.
The whines became overbearing until I snapped. A simple, (very) firm, "No whining. I will not tolerate it" does the trick. The time between reminders is growing and instead of having a meltdown I get the big sigh, eye roll, and "Ooh, okaaaay". Shades of the teenager to come.
Which brings us to the Wonderful, Great Idea.
"All right buddy, time to go to bed"
"But I want to watch.... (insert whatever show is about to start on Sprout or Nick Jr).
"Nope. Not tonight. It's bedtime"
"I've got a Great, Wonderful idea". (Been reading way to much Dr. Seuss of late). "Let's watch (insert show) and then we will go to bed."
The above also combines with his logical arguments. A preschooler's logic vs. a redhead's logic. Life is never interesting.
Oh and the whole reverse psychology? Going out the window. Either that or he's found a way to use it to his advantage. I'm not sure yet. He's up to something. I will figure this out:
John: You need to try the veggies and eat some more chicken.
Little Man: I'm full. (his standard response when a parent insists he try something new)
John: You either eat some more or you go to bed.
Little Man: No. I'm going to play in my playroom
Me: Hey, what did your father say? Come back here!
Nothing. Ignored. Completely.
I choose to finish my dinner while it is still warm and delay the fight that is about to occur. The only ending I see is one screaming child being tossed unceremoniously into his PJs followed by his bed. No sooner do I finish eating than I can hear Little Man calling out to us, asking where we are (right where you left us...).
He makes his way to us and begins to lecture us. For not reading to him.
Huh?
"Its bedtime. You need to come upstairs and read books. It is book time".
I say again, HUH?
"Its bedtime. Daddy said."
Triple HUH? It isn't even 7 PM yet. Just like that, your father says eat your dinner or go to bed and you go to bed with no fuss, no scream, no temper tantrum, no questions?
So why am I questioning this?
