As all parents know, we must speak in code. We refer to our monster 2-year old daughter as M.C. (“Middle Child) and we have also introduced the concept of “Don’t poke the bear” to our 4-year old son. Because of her unpredictable and very irrational mood swings and behavior, we are teaching him to avoid instigating a meltdown. If you sense that she is tired, hungry, cranky, frustrated, or really, just in the room… DON’T POKE THE BEAR.
This morning Mommy officially has caught the virus that is tearing through our household, so she was having a rest on the couch. Someone needed to wake up Daddy for work. I asked my 2-year old to do it, to which she replied, “Nope.”
Great. Thanks.
“Can you please go wake up Daddy? He would love to see you.”
“YOU go wake up Daddy.”
Teasing her, “YOU go wake up Daddy.”
“No, YOU.”
Tickling her chin, “No, YOU.”
She stops, turns, looks me deep in the eye and says coldly, “Don’t poke the bear.”