“No” is Sophie’s favorite and most constant word besides, “Dora”. I am not kidding. With as many words and sentences coming out of my child’s mouth NO is the one I hear the most and intensely dislike. Is it so wrong for me to expect some immediate acquiescence to whatever it is I want her to do?
I thought it would be funny for me to note the many shades of “no” that Sophie has.
- There is the shouted and firm, “NO!” that I am pretty sure she has learned from me and her father. Its usually paired with her plopping her bottom on the ground as if she is digging herself in for the long haul and nothing you (or me, apparently) can make her move. Silly Sophie…you are only 26 lbs, my dear.
- Then there is the, “Nooo….” which is a little sing-songy and comes with a slow shake of her head.
- One of my favorites is the, “Umm…..? No,” that almost immediately turns into a, “yeah!” Its one of my favorites because she says it so fast that she is going against what she thinks are my wishes until she realizes that, “wait a minute – that is something I like to do!” At two, her immediate instinct is to go against the grain. Lord help me.
- As of Sunday our newest version of “no” is, “No thanks!” which sounds like, “No tanks!” This one is pretty funny. I have been trying to teach her, “No, thank you” just because its more polite than the no’s you read above. But no. She catches on to one of her father’s most favorite, sarcastic phrases, “No thanks.”
Part 2 of this blog is my reaction.
Obviously, I cannot let NO be the end of it. She responds with it when I ask her a question or when I tell her to do something. She does not seem to notice the difference. I am trying to give her choices between two items instead of asking her straight out but this is not possible with everything.
I will be honest and say that NO drives me crazy.
Initially I was reacting with a firmness or whatever attitude kind of like, “There is no saying no, honey, its time to [change your diaper or take a bath]” whatever it is that she was saying no to. Sometimes that worked and other times it didn’t. Making it a game took too long – especially in the mornings which never seem to run on time.
Lately, I have been taking a page from my mom’s book. I tell Sophie in my sad little voice, “Oooh, Sophie. The word no makes mommy so sad when Sophie says it.” Sometimes I bow my head and cover my eyes for effect. Sophie is not the only drama queen in our house (I am talking about her father, obviously). This has been working like a charm! She comes over and pats me and says, “I sorry, mommy. It’s okay.” I secretly adore that little soothing pat on my head or shoulder. And then we go do what needed to get done. Since I started this I am getting NO from her less and less. This morning all I had to do was say it from her room into the hallway (she could only hear me, not see me) for her to run in all ready to get dressed with an, “okay, mommy!”
I am not above admitting that, “okay, mommy!” is one of my favorite phrases – if one of the most less often heard in my house.
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