Sunday, August 15, 2010

Little Mr. Manners

Sooooooo.....

We are trying to teach (among other things) LittleM to say "Please" and "Thank you". For awhile now I've been having to prompt him, "What do you say?" and he'd say, "Tease!" and rub his chest to do the sign.

But I think he has figured out that if I say no to something, he might have a chance if he says "Please". And for some things I do let him have it (if it's not something dangerous). I'm not sure if that sends the right message, but at least he's thinking of a tactic on his own, so it's some logical reasoning in there.

His first demonstration of logical reasoning was when he was holding two plastic forks at Subway, and Daddy offered him a chip. He leaned forward to get the chip, but Daddy made him give up one of the forks in order to take it with his hand. He then looked at the other fork and offered it up to Daddy in exchange for another chip. Smart kid!

As for "Thank you", he's been saying that almost constantly for the past few days. It sounds a lot like when he says, "There you go", so it's hard to know which response to give. He started saying "There you go" when I'd hand him something because that's what I'd say as I gave it to him. So if he's saying something that sounds like "Thank you", and he doesn't stop when we say, "You're welcome", then it's the other, and the correct response is "There you go."

Today, though, he started saying "Thank you" whenever I'd hand him something, which was really nice. It can be a grind for parents too to have to be reminding them all the time to say it, so it's a nice change when they pick it up and you don't have to be forever going, "What do you say?" or "Did you say thank you?" So I'm hoping if we keep it up at home, it will translate to out in the world as well.

Next on the list will probably be "Yes, Ma'am" (or Sir). But we'll have to get him saying "Yes" first. Right now it's, "N'kay." And that's "N'kay" with me.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Firsts

So we weren't planning on going to the park, I had just started a load of laundry with ALL my shorts in it, and was in pajama pants, but after hearing "outside" several hundred times, I was convinced we needed to go.

I found some yoga pants in the laundry room and we headed for the park closest to the house where Ms A said she and Big E would be there with Baby O. No sign of them when we got there so I texted her. By the time she replied the Militant Mommies were on their march through the park. Why anyone would pay someone $15 to be able to go to a free park and exercise with other mommies just so they can do the same exercises at the same time is beyond me.

So we get word that Ms A has taken the kiddies to the park on the other side of town. Uh-oh. Meltdown as I put LittleM BACK in the car to go across town. But once we get there all is right with the world.

As we're exploring the park LittleM seems to be getting more interested in the other kids playing on the playground equipment, which is a definite first. He usually starts walking/running and just goes nonstop till he's bright red.

And he asked to go on the swings, which he's never done before. It didn't last long, I got the all done sign before a minute was up, but we're communicating, so I'll take it.

Another first was that LittleM wanted to put his hat back on after he'd taken it off. He usually ditches it and I carry it around. We've tried telling him he has to wear it or we'll be leaving, and that usually involves a tantrum, so we pick our battles.

My favorite thing that happened at the park, though, was when we were walking back to Ms A, and LittleM looks up at me, puts his hand out and says, "Hand?". He's NEVER asked to hold my hand before! I reached for his hand and we walked. Just a few steps before he was over holding my hand, but it was really nice while it lasted.