A few weeks ago, our darling daughter learned the word “NO!” We were particularly excited about this for two reasons: 1. It showed that not only could she repeat the word, but that she understood it. She would do something, and look to us for either encouragement or discipline, and if she heard “No,” she’d simply move on. 2. It meant that for the most part, we could sit as we were and simply say “no.” – Making it a lot easier to get other things done.
And, then we took it too far. We encouraged her to “tell Mommy NONONO!” and, so she would. She’d hold her hand up and wave it all over the place, saying “Nonono!” We thought it was funny. Hilarious, actually. It was like having an extra person on your “team.” But, then…she started doing more than repeating. She learned how to use it to her advantage…and without prompting.
I’m late for a doctor’s appointment (or will be). So, I’m struggling to get little L into the back of the SUV (NO, not the hatch part…in the seat…carseat). I am trying to put her arms through the harness, when she decides to stiffen them up so I can’t move them without breaking her little arms. And, then she looks at me with the most intense little face and says “Mama…Nonono!” I struggle to not laugh and look right back into that precious face and say “Yesyesyes! Okay..please?” Unfortunately, she hasn’t picked up on the concept of “Yes”or “Please”…or even…”Do it because I said so…Now! “ Finally, I get the harness situated and I go to shut the door. Wait, where’s my phone? Out of the corner of my eye, I see something shiny. Phone spotted. In Lorelei’s hands. She’s probably calling the United Kingdom right about now. I reach over to grab the phone so we could be off. She moves the phone out of my reach with the opposite hand and swats with her free hand at mine, saying…(you guessed it) “NO NO NO!” Luckily, this time bribery works …so I traded her “blanki” for my phone.
But, all of this (and other situations like it) got me thinking. As cute and funny as it is now. It WON’T be. Lorelei is almost 1 and she’s learning how the world works…do I really want to teach her that she can tell ME NO?! –Um, not really. I mean…I could be teaching my kid to act like those little nits on Maury “Sweetie, please go clean your room.” …(she says) “Mama, shut the hell up. I’ll clean it when I damn well please.”
I’m sure that will NEVER happen (please don’t burst my bubble)…but I figured we’d air on the side of precaution and just put an end to teaching her to tell adults “Nono.”
Now, can I say “Nono” to her telling me “nono?”
Er…I’ll let you know how it turns out.
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