I love putting Jake to bed. Sometimes Jake likes to go to bed, and sometimes he likes to assert his independence. Now everyone is aware that 2 year olds can be very opinionated, and they usually make their views quite clear vocally and in as dramatic a fashion as possible. (Tami thinks it’s quite refreshing to have Jake declare unequivocally which shoes she should wear, after she gets the requisite “they both look great dear” from me. Sure it’s all fine and dandy, but she never asks Jake why he thinks they look better, or if the other ones make her feet look fat…) So our children appear to be no exception to the rule, and it can become trying at times. But sometimes the independence thing can be sort of funny.
After putting Jake to bed the other night he realized that he had to go potty, so he went. However he realized 5 minutes later that he needed to go again. So we let him (he’s going potty which is a good thing and you don’t want to discourage that, trust me). After he was done going potty I told him that he needed to stay in his room and go night-night. However just minutes later he was out again asking for some graham crackers… So I was in the middle of telling him that he can NOT have crackers and to GET back in bed before I have to come over there… and Tami told me to go get some crackers.
So Jake went to bed with crackers. Yeah real good parents, I know. But we were tired and didn’t want any more strife. But we almost got some. 5 minutes later, the door opened, Tami turned around, this time ready to scold, and Jakes hand deposits the plastic bag (the one the graham crackers came in) outside his door, retracts his hand and shuts the door as fast as he can. Not to be seen or heard from again that night.
And I realized that handling his independence is easy when it’s coupled with demonstrations that make me laugh.
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