The approaching 4 factor...

This is where we're at...

The Jelly Bean argues every point. I am in constant battle with the 'approaching 4 year old' logic and I lose more often than I win.

The Jelly Bean's favourite quotes within these battle of wits, strike that, battle of logics, are -

'No!'

'I don't want to!'

'But I want it/to do *that*/to eat this lollipop NOW!'

'Did you hear what I said?'

'Are you listening to my words?'

'MAMA!!!!!!!!!!'

'But I AM being a nice boy/friendly/talking nicely to you/using my manners!'

Tears also are in abundance.

As is the phrase when he wants attention or for me to stop doing something that I'm interested in/involved with/working on -
'I just want you.'

And how can one react to that other than to drop everything and pick him up and give him cuddles and tell him that I'm here. I'll always be here. I love him, so.

Emotional blackmail works a treat for the approaching 4 year old.

We've implemented a new tool. I have drawn up a chart and stuck it with a magnet to the side of the washing machine. He can see this chart when he cleans his teeth. It has a column for smiley faces and a column for sad faces. If he fills a row with smiley faces he can have a treat - a trip to the cool park, an icy pole, to make some cookies, to play with a friend. But if he fills up a column with sad faces he's not allowed to go to swimming and I can take one of his favourite toys away. We haven't filled up either column yet, but the threat of the sad faces seems to be working well.

Until this morning when I asked him if he wanted a sad face for being silly and jumping on the couch. He said, 'Yes please. I'd like a sad face.' Then promptly walked into the bathroom waiting for a sad face.

Touché

At times like this all one can reasonably do is lie on the couch or on one's bed and look out the window at the swishy tree outside.

Things The Bean has said:

When looking at the swishy tree.
Me: Baby, can you see that birdy in the swishy tree.
TB: Yup. Where is it?
Me: On that branch.
TB: Hey Mama. There's a rhino.
Me: In the tree?
TB: No, Mama. It's a rhino pig.
Me: A rhino pig?
TB: Hmmm.
Me: Does it have a rhino face.
TB: Yeah.
Me: And a pig body.
TB: No Mama, not a pig body. A rhino body.
Me: So it's a rhino.
TB: No it's a rhino pig.


I was cooking. The Bean, from the lounge room -
TB: Mama, my name's not Jelly Bean anymore. I'm just Relax.
Me: Oh really? Your name's Relax or you are relaxed?
TB: Yup, I'm Relax, it's my racing car name.


We'd had some friends over in the afternoon, we'd eaten dips and other assorted snacks. After saying goodbye I'd come inside, gone to the loo and then to my room to get changed into my non-company tracky dacks. I'd been out of sight for maybe 2 minutes.

TB: Mama, I ate all your biscuits!


One morning I was dozing in bed while The Bean was playing with his cars. He'd eaten breakfast but had started nagging me to get up, from the lounge room.

TB: Mama, can you listen to my words?!
Me: Hmmmm.
TB: Mama, you have a big stretch and then I'll come in and talk to you.