Yummy Leaves
posted by Jen | 10:48 AM
I've been disbelieving the parenting literature that says to start trying to teach babies Carina’s age about limits. Surely she’s still too young to understand "no". The word is often met with an innocent smile and a repeat offence. However, I saw something this weekend that makes me think maybe it is possible.
We went on a walk Sunday afternoon, and after getting back to the house I put Carina down on the lawn to play for a bit. She had a grand old time feeling the grass and the dead leaves that have reappeared all over the lawn after my grand raking day last month. Anyway, since she’s still in the stage where her tongue is used to explore as much as her hands, I was keeping a sharp eye out for the grass and leaves going into her mouth. Every time she started to put a leaf in there, I’d place my hand between the leaf and her mouth, say "no", and move her hand down. When I did it, she’d get a concerned look on her face and then offer me the leaf as if to say "Oh, do you want it, Mommy? Here you go." Then I’d smile, take the leaf, say thank you, and tell her what a good girl she is.
Do you see it coming? Twice, right before we went inside, she started to put a leaf in her mouth, but before I could get my hand into position and say "no" she stopped, held it out to me, and smiled! Once might have been coincidence, but twice?
We went on a walk Sunday afternoon, and after getting back to the house I put Carina down on the lawn to play for a bit. She had a grand old time feeling the grass and the dead leaves that have reappeared all over the lawn after my grand raking day last month. Anyway, since she’s still in the stage where her tongue is used to explore as much as her hands, I was keeping a sharp eye out for the grass and leaves going into her mouth. Every time she started to put a leaf in there, I’d place my hand between the leaf and her mouth, say "no", and move her hand down. When I did it, she’d get a concerned look on her face and then offer me the leaf as if to say "Oh, do you want it, Mommy? Here you go." Then I’d smile, take the leaf, say thank you, and tell her what a good girl she is.
Do you see it coming? Twice, right before we went inside, she started to put a leaf in her mouth, but before I could get my hand into position and say "no" she stopped, held it out to me, and smiled! Once might have been coincidence, but twice?
Labels: baby
4 Comments:
ah, I recall those days of innocence....
I know. My sister is always telling me stories about the first time my neice did something willful, or sassy. I can't believe someday this little angel will throw a tantrum because I tell her she can't have a cookie before dinner. :(
(Daddy will not be any help with the no cookies before dinner thing, I'm sure.)
what? you can't have cookies before dinner.... oops!
:) Or whatever. Everyone has their limits, which naturally occur before the limits of toddlers.
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