I need a time out from the time out
March 1, 2012 § 5 Comments
The Jedi Smile. "This isn't the baby you want to be mad at..."
I had to do it. Normally I don’t care if he spills but this time he did it on purpose. He looked me in the eye and spilled the mango juice all over the table. So I gave him a time out. He is sitting there, singing. Looking at the wall. I have to leave him there for two whole minutes. That’s what all the books say: minute per year of age. So he’s two and that means two minutes. I did all the things the experts say you should do. He spilled a little and I told him in a firm but loving voice that it was not OK to spill the juice. He did it again and I warned him that he would get a time out if he continued to spill so after he poured the rest of the glass on the table, I had no choice. Right? I had to teach him that there are limits, that rules are rules, that he needs to do as I say sometimes. Even if it’s only juice and I can easily clean it up and it’s no big deal because we don’t have a carpet or anything. No stains. But still, STILL, he needs to learn. And I have to teach him. Who else, if not me? Because if I don’t teach him this now he will grow up knowing no limits and then he’ll have no respect for authority and wind up a criminal. That’s what the books say…and it’s not like he’s locked up in a dark closet. I took him away from the mess so he could have a minute to think about what happened. That’s how it’s done, experts say.
What they don’t say is how hard it is to hear him call me. He’s not even crying. He’s making funny faces. Of course, he’s trying to use his Supercute powers on me. Oh no, he’s using the Jedi Smile. It is powerful indeed.
Just a few seconds to go and it is taking all I have not to run to him, hug him and kiss him and tell him that I have an evil twin that was impersonating me but that I am the Nice Mommy and I will let him spill all the juice in the world just to make him happy.
It’s over. I go to him and tell him that Time Out is over. He turns to the wall and says “Bye bye, Time Out. See you later!” and invites me to bounce like Tigger. I have never bounced more happily.
Oh dear!
Ay Angie… Esta semana he tenido “la semana” con mi Sam… Te entiendo perfectamente! Por lo menos Matías conoce el concepto de “time out”, nosotros apenas estamos en esas con nuestro adorado hijito! No sabes cómo se me parte el corazón a mí, en especial porque cuando me pide perdón quiere que lo levante del piso y lo cargue inmediatamente, cosa que no puedo hacer por mi “growing belly”. En lo que sí estoy de acuerdo es en el establecimiento de límites y de autoridad, ahí sí como dicen los papás: No hay tu tía!
XOXOXO
Caro M.
Sometimes I need a time out after a time out
I don’t know how you do it… he’s so damn cuuuuute!!
He isssssss
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