time out

It has been interesting to listen to Addelyn's conversational skills these days as she seems to be able to put more of her thoughts into words. It has also caused for some interesting moments at our house as she shows her strong will! Many of the moments the sweetest things will come out of her mouth but then at times....

Dinner tonight: (dinner has been a HUGE battle lately....getting her to sit, stay sitting, and eat.) She fought everything.
Here we go:

"I don't want to have that plate tonight. I want the other one. I don't like that plate."
"I don't like mashed potatoes."
As Mark puts ketchup on her plate for her roast (which she usually LOVES), "I don't want ketchup, I want ranch!"

Addelyn didn't eat anything except a bit of cottage cheese. I got a little harder on her and sat her down at the table and told her that she couldn't get up til she had at least tried her food.
"I don't like you," she said.
She learned that she wasn't going to get anything else to eat later except this plate of food and still decided she was done. While we cleaned up dinner, she ended up getting a timeout after not listening over and over to directions from Mark and I.

As Addelyn sat on her stool for her timeout, I thought about how much easier it would be sometimes to just let her do her thing. Not to make her sit, to give her only cottage cheese for dinner, to let her run around, and then to completely ignore her when she does things that are wrong. Then, I remembered hearing a number of times that how we react to and discipline our two year olds and three year olds will affect who they are and how they respond when they are teenagers and even bigger than that, the adults they will someday be. I know that right now I have to pick my battles, but at the same time, when I do pick a battle- I need to follow through on my words. Addelyn needs that stability and assurance that Mark and I mean what we say!

So after time out, I sat and looked Addelyn in the eyes and asked her why she was in time out tonight. She said it was because she wasn't a good listener. We talked about why it was important to listen and I told her how much we love her.
Without prodding, she walked over to Mark at the sink, hugged his leg and said, "Daddy, I'm sorry for not listening."
Then she turned to me, hugged me tightly and said, "I'm sorry, Mommy."
What a wonderful, sweet little moment. Then she let go of me, looked at my stomach, and said, "Wow you have a big tummy, Mommy!"
Ahh the honesty. Gotta love it.
Hopefully tomorrow will be an "I like" day. I promise we do have those days!