What a Life!

When you’re a toddler, sometimes you just need to have your own opinion. The only way to actually do that is by saying “No.” If you say yes, you might be simply obeying instead of doing what you want to do. But if you say no, it’s definitely your own opinion…and everyone knows you have an opinion.

One of the best opportunities to exercise you’re opinion is when eating. It doesn’t matter whether you’re hungry or full, whether you like the food and have eaten half of it or if you haven’t even taken a bite. You have a captive audience, because you know Mom’s not going anywhere until you eat your food, and there may be other people seated at the table as well. To make your point really clear, get on your knees in your high chair, do a 180, and put your arms up in front of your face (hands work okay, but arms are much stronger). If you don’t want to go to all that trouble, just shake your head no vigorously. No-no-no-no-no! If Mom asks you if your tummy is full, shake your head no even harder – she might even shake her head with you – then take a bite. The fact that your opinion changed from “No, I don’t want another bite” to “No, my tummy is not full so give me another bite right now” is just a technicality. It’s letting people know that you have an opinion that matters.

When you go shopping with mom, if she unzips her coat when you go into a store, don’t let her unzip yours. It doesn’t matter if you’re hot or not – if she wants to unzip your coat, you do not want it unzipped. Start out by vigorously shaking your head no, and if she keeps going, scream really loud. Everyone in the store will turn and look, and they will all know that you have an opinion.

When Mom wants to change your diaper, it doesn’t matter if you’re walking funny because it’s so full. When Mom says “Let’s go change your diaper” and walks toward the bedroom, run and hide behind the couch. Crouch down really low at one end and giggle. If you’re really lucky, she’ll get mad and start yelling. “Ben, get out here right now! It’s time to change your diaper.” It’s great if you can have an exit route on both ends of the couch – that way if she decides to go behind the couch herself to “arrest” you, you can get out the other way and run giggling to another part of the house.

These are just a few of the ways in which you can exercise the right to have your own opinion. All it really boils down to is, no matter what they want, the answer is No! Got it?