Little Mr. Attitude

Ah, my little Nate. What joy he brings me, what love I feel, how I want to eat him up...wait, what the heck did he just say to me??? Of all the things to learn from his big sister, like her unusually good manners, her knack for eating so cleanly, the way she refuses to repeat a bad word...no, he learns I NOT!

"I not" was a short, but lovely, little phase that L went through some months ago. It was when her peak of back-talking and tantrum throwing was going on. Whatever you would try to say to her or do with her, she would turn away and announce "I NOT". But Nate picked up on it I guess, or maybe she uses it on occasion now and he's using it too. I'm not sure but he uses it in perfect context and it's WAY too early for this. After all, Lacey was just turning 4 and he is only 2 for heavens sake.

He also uses the phrase "Not yet" (ah yet) in perfect context as well. If I tell him we need to put his clothes on or change his diaper or take a nap, it's either I NOT, or AH YET.

And while Lacey's terrible two's didn't hit till she was well into age 3, Nate's is every bit at age 2. He is reduced to tears and throwing himself dramatically on the floor at the slightest notion of not getting his way. In fact, I am actually surprised when I correct him or tell him no and he DOESN'T lose his mind.

So it seems that just as one child gets through a particularly difficult stage, the other is right on the heels with we parents barely having a chance to revel in the peace. But as they say, this too shall pass.