The Toddler Chronicles, No. 13
Charlotte has started doing this thing over the past couple of months where she’ll do something she isn’t supposed to, and when she’s corrected, she responds with… politeness.
It’s been interesting and has made delivering any disciplinary action much more awkward. She’s newly two years old and knows exactly what she’s doing.
Just a couple of days ago, she was literally standing on top of the kitchen table, jumping up and down. I gave her my classic “stern dad look.” She stopped immediately, said, “Hello!” and went back to jumping. I used my stern voice and said, “Charlotte, get down.” She responded with, “Thank you!” and kept jumping.
I told her to get down again and was met with another, “Thank youuuuuuu!”
Then I physically removed her from the table.
Another example: Yesterday, we went to the zoo. She was in the wagon as we walked past the elephants. She stood up and started trying to climb out while it was actively moving. Gabby said, “Wait, Charlotte, you can get out in a minute.” Charlotte kept trying to get out, threw a leg over the side, and Gabby, more assertively, told her to stop. Charlotte responded with, “Thank you!” and proceeded to climb out while the wagon was still moving.
Nearly a week ago, I handed her a very full juice box. I told her to hold it normally and not tip it upside down, which, of course, she immediately did. I used my stern dad voice and told her to turn it right-side up. She said, “Thank you,” and continued to squeeze the juice out upside down onto the floor.
Yesterday evening, I walked into the girls’ bedroom and found them both drawing on Charlotte’s bed frame with dry-erase markers.
I said, “Are you guys supposed to be doing that?”
Lyla replied, “Charlotte wanted to do it first, and I’m helping.”
Charlotte chimed in, “Hellooooo!”
I informed them that they weren’t supposed to draw on the bed frame and took away the markers. Charlotte said, “Thank you!”
I went back in a little while later, and they were doing it again. Apparently, they had managed to reach where I had placed the markers on the counter. I told Charlotte no, took the marker, and she said, “Thank youuu! Hello!”
Another time, both girls were taking a bath, and Charlotte started sliding down the back side of the tub like it was a mini water slide, resulting in unnecessary splashing and copious amounts of water everywhere. Both girls know this is forbidden. I told her to stop, and she said, “Thank you!” Then she stood back up and slid down again.
There was also the time she was done eating a popsicle and I told her to put it in the sink, a task she’s perfectly capable of doing. Instead, she sat it on the seat of the chair, said, “Thank youuuu!” and walked away.
Oh, and this other time, Charlotte was standing in the dog’s water bowl, kicking water everywhere. Gabby said, “Charlotte! Get out now!” She responded with a very polite, “Thank you!” and went back to stomping in the water.
I walked over, and before I could say anything, she cheerfully said, “Hello!”
I picked her up and relocated her, prompting another very polite, “Thank youuuu!”
It seems this particular toddler is not the same as when Lyla was this age. Gabby and I are working on a new game plan.