Oh, Peace

Sometimes I try to sneak off and go to the bathroom without Peace. But then she finds me and screams at me to go to the bathroom again. So I do. (Or, at least, I pretend to.)

Why do I do this, you may ask?

Because it's easier.

Because two years olds are unreasonable and it's easier than listening to the screaming.

So, the whole family is very accommodating to Peace, not wanting to make the loud noises start. ("Don't do that, you might make her cry." "Quick, put the monkey back on the dresser. That's where she wants it.") We're like that one family in Twilight Zone: The Movie. The family that does anything the young boy says (because if they don't, he will remove their mouths).

Some may say that we're spoiling her, but they are wrong. This is not about spoiling. This is about not wanting to listen to the screaming because it hurts our ears.

She is utterly incapable of being reasoned with... because she's two. So, this is what we do.

I am not particularly that familiar with this type of two year old behavior, because my oldest was always quiet and my middlest was always happy.

The only other thing that can be done at times like that is a parenting technique called "distraction" or "re-direction". This is where if she screams at me to go to the bathroom again, I respond with something clever like, "Hey, look at that couch!" or "Do you want to get a banana?"

But this tactic takes more time and effort (not to mention bananas), because you have to think of something (it's not as easy as it looks).

One time, we were at the park, and I tried to be all authoritative and insisted that she get down from the slide because it was time to go home. She didn't want to, so I removed her from the slide and strapped her in the stroller ("Hey look! A stroller!). We started walking home. And she screamed and screamed and somehow managed to wriggle her way out of being buckled in her stroller. It was obviously not going to work, so we turned around and I put her back on the slide. She sat there for a little while, slid down, and then was ready to go home.

So, that's the last time I try to be authoritative with a two year old. They just don't get it.

Here is a quote that I like that I think is reflective of Peace:

You'll find it easier to stay present if you hold this thought: Children who have strong feelings are blessed with strong Inner Guidance. - Scott Noelle.

I have felt since Day One that Peace knows what she wants out of life. I don't want to stifle that in her or tell her that what she's feeling is wrong. She knows what she wants out of life, and she's upset when she doesn't get it. (Hmm... sound like anybody else you know? Now, if only I could stop acting like a toddler.)