How to shop with a 2 year-old:)

I think of so many things to blog about as I'm driving in my car or sitting at work. So many things that I have an opinion about, since I have so very many opinions, a thought about, or whatever. However, when I finally get in front of a computer all my thoughts escape me. Bottom lin, I'm burned out by the time I sit down to write. So, here goes my strands of randomness for tonight.



Today was Lee's first day at his new job. We all (Lee, Joshua, and myself) were actually in the kitchen around the counter for breakfast this morning. It was so awesome!!! Joshua and I ate our bagels as Lee fixed his cheese toast and coffee. We got to talk as a family for a short period before I rushed out the door to work and the day began. It was wonderful, though. Having those minutes to share as a family. It really was as though the rest of the world ceased to exist. It was terrific.



This afternoon I picked Joshua up from school, while Lee was at work until 5:00. Joshua tested every boundary we've ever set and then some. I'd say pink, he'd say green. I'd say go, he'd say stop. It was like we were opposites all afternoon. Our only break through was during a wuick shopping excursion at a clothing store.



When we first arived Joshua refused to hold my hand. "NO mommy! I walk wit chew!" The problem was that he didn't walk with me. Instead, he kept running in and out of the clothing racks, all the while laughing and smiling. Now, I must admit the mommy in me loved hearing that pure and giddy laugh. It's the mom in me that stinks at discipline and has but one desire...for her child to be eternally happy. The rest of me, however, wanted to jerk him up and have him walking a chalk line...after all I was raised with the belief (however faulty it may be) that children were to mind their manners at all times, to be in complete subjection, to be seen and not heard. That part of me felt embarassed and frustrated.



I decided to ask Joshua to hold my hand. Surely if I was reasonable in my requests, then this precious little two year-old would be overcome by that logic. Surely he would see the value in holding his mommy's hand. Imagine my suprise when he yelled "NO" (his most popular vocabulary term) at the top of his lungs, while his hands gripped his hips firmly and his lip puckered in a pouty yet stern position that let anyone within visibility know that he meant business. He had done it...with those small actions he had initiated the battle and I choose to engage.



As I sat there contemplating my first act of war, a radio broadcast I heard a couple of months back ran through my mind. The mother mentioned hol her son's ear when he refused to hold her hand. With an air of confidence and certainty, I grabbed that little ear before he knew what was oming. Understan, I did not twist his ear, like the little old grannies do. Rather, I simply held it. I held it firmly, but I did not pinch it. He screamed and wailed like I had beaten him with a baseball bat. I calmly maintained my grasp and said in a low calm voice, "Mommy has to hold your ear because you won't hold her hand. Mommy has to keep you close to make sure you are safe. I love you soooooo much." It was almost scary how calm I sounded. Of course he continued to wail, and I continued to firmly hold that beautiful little ear between my pointer and thumb. After a couple of minutes I told him I would let go of his ear if he held my hand. He said "des mam" (translation: yes mam!). I let go of his ear, and it was as if the battle had ended, the trumpet sounded, the fat lady sang!!!! No more tesing the boundaries. No more pushing mommy's buttons. He was the epitome of cooperation...until we left the store at least. It was pure bliss for the rest of our shoppig experience...I think next time I'll just start with the ear:)!