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What to do with opinionated pre-schoolers
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He also likes waterproof mascara, apparently.
Why is it that four-year-olds suddenly become so opinionated? What do they have to be opinionated about? Suddenly, my son Mendel finds himself faced with all these decisions; do I want the blue pants, the black, or the jeans? Do I really believe in the Elmo sweatshirt? What is my stance on cereal: milk, or no milk? How many times can I yell the word “NO” at my mother before she climbs the stairs and jumps out the second story window?
I’m wondering how long this phase will last. I’m a little afraid, to be honest; my daughter hasn’t exactly grown out of it, and she’s seven; am I going to be stuck with two of these mini-Diva’s, who think I care what they think about every tiny detail, and who get huffy with me any time I tell them what’s what?
Shouldn’t children know that parents are right sometimes, and even when we’re not, we hold the car keys?
But no. Mendel has apparently decided that I need a lesson in humility, and plays Who’s the Boss? with me on a daily basis.
Do you want breakfast? I ask, and he doesn’t answer. I ask three more times (a child has to eat) before I start walking away, at which point he turns around and says: “Breakfast! Yeah.”
“What do you want?”
“…”
“Mendel, what would you like to eat?”
“…”
“Mendel?”
“…”
“Mendel, answer me! Do you want cheerios?”
“…”
“Okay, fine! No breakfast.”
“Yes I want Breakfast! Mommy, I want breakfast!”
“Okay, do you want your cereal with, or without milk?”
“…”
“Fine, with milk. If you’re not going to answer me…”
“No! Without milk.”
“Okay. Here.”
“I want milk.”
This is not fun. In fact, it’s so bloody annoying that I’m starting to wonder if this is still my child, or if I accidentally brought the wrong one home from pre-school. You know, in those little hoodies, they do all look kind of the same.
Maybe I can avoid this by just throwing some food at him in the morning, then locking myself in the bathroom. I’ll have to wear earplugs, but it’s worth a try.
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