Despite my best efforts to create a safe-to-explore, child-friendly environment, I DO say no to Benjamin a lot. No this, no that, no all day long. Such is the life with a toddler I suppose. I mean seriously – do any of you have a boy toddler? They’re ALLOVERTHEPLACEALLTHETIME! This kid never. stops. moving.
Since he hears “No” much more often than I’d like, I try to let the non-important, non-safety-related stuff go. Except what’s not important to me is important to other people. Did you know some people frown upon children climbing on living room furniture? Hmm. News to me too. What a buzzkill.
So to resolve this discrepancy, I say yes when no one is looking.
Yeah, sure, climb on that new furniture!
You want to climb in Cooper’s crate? Enjoy yourself. I’ll leave the door open.
That table looks like a great climbing tunnel!
I suppose it’s okay if you play with that radio or the cable box.
Oh, you want to eat cereal off the floor? Why not. I know if I tell you no, you’ll do it behind my back anyway, so go to town.
Cookies for breakfast? Well, I can’t be a hypocrite, can I?
Of course, I try to not confuse the poor kid by actually saying, “no” when others are around, and “yes” when no one is around, but rather, I redirect him when there’s an audience (which for now, is almost all the time), and let him go bananas crazy as soon as the audience leaves the room.
Is there anything you let your kids do when no one is looking? Surely I’m not alone!
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I think I would have an anxiety attack if I had to live, with a toddler, with family and not in our own house...sometimes I will see Raegan pick up the tv remote or messing up her caddy of diapers (neither of which is she supposed to have, nor are they supposed to be within her reach so...) and if she's quiet (which she usually is when she's doing something she knows she's not supposed to be doing) I sneak back to doing what ever it was that I left to check on her...I only do this is SHE didnt see ME see HER. If our eyes meet, I have to be consistent and take it away *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine having someone watch by very move as a parent. You got to do what you need to, to keep your sanity.
ReplyDeleteI think we all do what you are doing! Its not easy to always tell them no. They are just exploring and playing.. and sometimes we need to loosen up and just let kids be kids. I say yes to dessert before dinner all the time when its just us but when I do it out and about.. I get the strangest looks. I'm sorry but sometimes chocolate cake for dinner is as good if not better than something else. Just do what works for you.. and everything else will fall in place! Thanks for the linkup!
ReplyDeleteLolol gotta pick your battles
ReplyDeleteHa! Love this confession as I bet most moms do the same thing! "You know what, pick that booger, you're not gonna stop if I ask you to anyway" or "ok fine, here's a cracker so that you'll not ask me for the 198th time!" :)
ReplyDeleteLOL as the Mama of two boys, I SO get this!!! My oldest (whose 3 y/o now) is the freaking energizer bunny on steroids. He runs, climbs, jumps, dances... he's just moving non-stop. I turn around and he's climbed onto the counter and before I can even say no, he's on top of the fridge. It's insane. I've learned that boys will be boys. Only so much I can do. right? right? ;-)
ReplyDeleteHA! I'm so with you! I have an 11 month old who is a walking/tumbling tornado, and IN.TO.EVERYTHING. Pretty certain he hears "no" more than any other word during the day. However, if he wants to climb around like the monkey he is, go for it big guy, one less thing for mommy to stress about (for now).
ReplyDeleteUm I do it when people are looking. :o)
ReplyDeleteI just 'ignore' it or pretend I don't 'see' it. She eats off the floor and my dad says something. I respond with it's food, it can't be that old, and she's building her immune system. :o)
Boy toddlers... oh yes, Jerry Seinfeld once said, "Having a two-year-old is like having a blender that you don't have the top for." It's so true. Like you said, they NEVER stop! I don't see anything wrong with the occasional free roaming under your supervision as long as no safety concerns are involved! ;)
ReplyDeleteHahaha I do the same thing. I'm SOOO tired of telling her no. It's on like, repeat here.
ReplyDelete