Toddlerhood

from Ben's mom

We are going through one of those "stages." The kind where suddenly your sweet agreeable baby comes into a new understanding of the world and begins to demand "his way."

Yesterday, it was breakfast. Ben sent his dish back to the kitchen with complaints that it wasn't the kind of oatmeal he preferred. The kitchen sent it back with a reminder that there were no other options on the menu. Ben was not a nice customer. He did not finish his meal; he did not leave a tip; he did not control his emotions well. He was sent to bed and protested that he didn't want to go to bed; he wanted to have a new breakfast. It was quite a morning.

Then Baby Addie and her mom Sara showed up. Ben was invited to join us if he could be a nice boy. It occurred to him that after his behavior, this nice sweet baby might make a nice replacement for him in his mom's eyes. So he clung to her, ascertaining that her heart was truly his. She assured him she still loved him but she didn't want to hold him ALL DAY.

A long nap helped but the mother is still dazed and practicing for future responses.