To Cane or Not to Cane

This is a Tag from Mitch and I think it's good timing as Louna's on the Terrible Twos stage and bad habits are growing by leaps and bounds. Time out corners had been a hit but she's outgrown that now. She still knows the signification but would refuse to stay there or else, she would deliberately lie on the floor. Hitting the back of her hand is somewhat effective now, she would even hit her own hand when she knows she's done something bad. It doesn't necessarily need hard hitting, she knows when we're angry and hitting her hand is just a symbol.

The biggest challenge right now is for her to systematically arrange her toys after play time (though she does that voluntarily at the Nanny's place :(. Or she would even intentionally scatter her toys just to challenge us. Is that some kind of a power play between parents and kids? Who wins?

Pushing her to arrange her toys (or any other activity) has never worked. I just end up exasperated, at the verge of losing my temper. So I return the challenge followed by encouragements - Papa, do you think Louna could arrange her toys? Oh, does this belong here? I think it belongs to Dora. - Look at what Louna's doing Papa. She's a real good girl! - And yes, when she executes the challenge, there's a tinge of pride in her geste.

Well, the strategy doesn't work 100% of the time but is already encouraging. It depends on her mood.

Oppps, what was the question again? To cane or not to cane? Oh no. I'm not giving my last word yet but I don't really think so. I was never hit by my parents and I think I'm a good girl (lol). I believe in the power of communication and I believe I would use that without moderation.

Did I hear it right? My daughter is correcting me!

One problem of being a working mom is that I only see my daughter in the morning where everything should be done at a lightning speed - and in the evening, where a good portion of that precious time is spent in the kitchen. She knows what's inside the fridge, where to find chocolates, how to arrange our groceries (she knows what to put in the fridge and what not to), how to set the table.. her vocabulary skills are somewhat focused on what's inside the kitchen too.

So you could imagine that most of the conversations evolve in that part of the house too. The conversation this morning came out like this:

Maman: Louna, fini ton verre, s'il te plait. (Louna, please finish your glass).
Louna: Non, non, non (while shaking her head). Ca, c'est lait. (No, no, no. This is milk.)

Well, okay. How in the world could I ask her to finish her glass?

And another conversation:

Maman explaining to Louna that what she's eating was cheese and it's like yoghurt but in a different form. (We try to limit her food intake as she has the tendency to exaggerate - did I say that she's a glutton?)

Louna opening the fridge then pointing to a yoghurt: Non, ça c'est wut (No, this is yoghurt. - that's how she pronounce yaourt for now).

Maman ended up scratching her head. How could I explain that both are made of milk and she could take either of the two but not both?

***

Ever wonder what your kid's doing with the Nanny while you're out? I know.

Louna and Camille with Nanou Guénaëlle watching a show at the nursery.

Little Bakers.

The Pirate, the Indian and the Little Kitten ready for Mardi Gras.

Independence

What she could do alone:

- Wear and remove her shoes.
- Do her potty.
- Remove her winter coat.
- Wear her gloves and bonnet.
- Go up and down the stairs.
- Eat and drink alone.
- Help me bake a yoghurt cake.
- Choose her own dessert.
- Choose what DVD to watch.
- Choose the song she wants to hear inside the car.
- Peel off a clementine.
- Ride her trotinette (scooter).

What she could do at the Nanny's place but refuse to do at home:

- Arrange her toys.

What she couldn't resist:

- Any kind of food.

What she hates:

- Water.

She's becoming more and more independent. She's almost ready to go to pre-school. Where did time go?