The Price is Wrong
Sophie and Genevieve get along really well most of the time. They love playing with each other. Sometimes they love it so much they play until someone gets hurt. Today was no different. They were busy playing static-hair-head-land. The rules are simple. You sit under a blanket in the living room and walk around until you hit something and fall over. Then, when you came out from under the blanket, your hair is standing up due to static. I have no clue where they came up with the game but I didn't really mind. I only started to mind when Sophie began screaming. The first time she was crushed by Genevieve when they both fell over. I warned them to stop playing the game before someone really got hurt. Of course they listened dutifully until I walked back to the kitchen at which point they promptly started playing again. The second round ended with Sophie screaming after she slammed her head into a column. This time I told them that the blanket had to stay on the couch. The game quickly switched to "baby" in which Genevieve pretends to be a helpless newborn and has to be mothered. Sophie wanted none of this and instead sat on the opposite side of the couch clutching a small icy butterfly to her head to soothe her bump.
Jonah and I sat down between them. Eventually Sophie's head was feeling better so she decided to start chewing on the butterfly. The butterfly is actually a teething toy for a baby. It is definitely not meant for 2 1/2 year old with a full set of teeth to chew on. I took it out of her mouth and told her not to chew on it. As soon as I turned around, it was back in her mouth. Again I took it out of her mouth and told her to stop chewing on it. For the second time she put it right back in her mouth. At this point I took it from her and put it on the coffee table. Instantly the waterworks start and she is mad. I figured: I'm the calm rational parent. I'll try reasoning with her. Surely if I explain my position she'll see why I had to take it away and the crying would stop.
"Sophie, why did Daddy take away the butterfly?"
"To make me cry!"
uh-oh. This isn't working.
"No. I took it away because you were chewing on it. Are you supposed to chew on it?"
"No"
"Did you chew on the butterfly after Daddy told you not to?"
"Yes"
"So, why did I take the butterfly away?"
"To make me cry."
So much for reasoning.
On a completely unrelated note: Genevieve and Sophie always want what the other child is playing with. Sometimes they will go out of their way to take something because they know the other will want it. Today, while playing outside, Sophie had been relaxing in the sun on a toddler sized lounge chair. At some point Genevieve ended up in the chair and Sophie was not pleased. Sophie was forcing herself into Genevieve's lap whining and crying that she needed to sit.
As I knew Genevieve had sat there only to annoy her sister, I decided to offer Sophie an unseen alternative. "Sophie do you want to sit on a different chair? I can go into the garage and get you something different." There wasn't much of a response and the whining continued. As I walked into the garage, Genevieve's curiosity was piqued. Much like the contestants on the price is right, she must trade what she is holding for whatever might be in the box. "Sophie, you can have the chair." was quickly followed by the scampering of little feet and: "What are you getting? Is it good? Can I sit on it?" I would have liked to properly finish the lesson but I was fresh out of burros wearing sombreros. Instead I took out a small park bench which they both pretty much ignored. Not surprisingly they also lost interest in the lounge chair.
Jonah and I sat down between them. Eventually Sophie's head was feeling better so she decided to start chewing on the butterfly. The butterfly is actually a teething toy for a baby. It is definitely not meant for 2 1/2 year old with a full set of teeth to chew on. I took it out of her mouth and told her not to chew on it. As soon as I turned around, it was back in her mouth. Again I took it out of her mouth and told her to stop chewing on it. For the second time she put it right back in her mouth. At this point I took it from her and put it on the coffee table. Instantly the waterworks start and she is mad. I figured: I'm the calm rational parent. I'll try reasoning with her. Surely if I explain my position she'll see why I had to take it away and the crying would stop.
"Sophie, why did Daddy take away the butterfly?"
"To make me cry!"
uh-oh. This isn't working.
"No. I took it away because you were chewing on it. Are you supposed to chew on it?"
"No"
"Did you chew on the butterfly after Daddy told you not to?"
"Yes"
"So, why did I take the butterfly away?"
"To make me cry."
So much for reasoning.
On a completely unrelated note: Genevieve and Sophie always want what the other child is playing with. Sometimes they will go out of their way to take something because they know the other will want it. Today, while playing outside, Sophie had been relaxing in the sun on a toddler sized lounge chair. At some point Genevieve ended up in the chair and Sophie was not pleased. Sophie was forcing herself into Genevieve's lap whining and crying that she needed to sit.
As I knew Genevieve had sat there only to annoy her sister, I decided to offer Sophie an unseen alternative. "Sophie do you want to sit on a different chair? I can go into the garage and get you something different." There wasn't much of a response and the whining continued. As I walked into the garage, Genevieve's curiosity was piqued. Much like the contestants on the price is right, she must trade what she is holding for whatever might be in the box. "Sophie, you can have the chair." was quickly followed by the scampering of little feet and: "What are you getting? Is it good? Can I sit on it?" I would have liked to properly finish the lesson but I was fresh out of burros wearing sombreros. Instead I took out a small park bench which they both pretty much ignored. Not surprisingly they also lost interest in the lounge chair.
posted by daniel @ 7:09 PM
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