J has NOT been listening lately.
Last night, before he got out of the car I gave him clear instructions that I wanted him to walk next to me. “J you need to walk with Mom, hold my hand. No running. Walking Feet. Ok?”
He replied with a smile and nodded his head. Moments later he is laughing and running. He completely ignores me when I tell him to “stop his feet and wait for me”.
As a consequence he had to sit on the couch and listen to me explain the dangers. (I made it breif.)
We live in the desert. About 3 weeks ago I saw a rattlesnake in my frontyard. Last summer we had a mountain lion in our backyard (with pawprints bigger than my hand!). We have bobcats, javelinas, centipedes and scorpions who greet us at the front door (last Wednesday).
I don’t believe he is being disobedient to be defiant but he is impulsive, high energy and cheerful.
J is LIVING IN THE MOMENT. He is not thinking long term or consequences…just wants to have fun!
My other parenting issue is participation in circletime at the library. He will wander, climb under, run out of the room. He wanes in and out of participation. He will join in then start running around the room. When asked if he wants to or needs to leave because he isn’t following directions he request that he stays. He will join then go back to his own “program”.
Today, I gave him my expectations and told him if he didn’t listen at librarytime ; he wouldn’t be able to go to a second fun activity. He would be able to choose swimming, play at the mall, or park. He lost a 2nd activity because he was running around the room, climbing and crawling under furniture and ran out of the room.
Tonite, he listened walking holding my hand. He told me about the snakes. The other day we went to the museum and he got to see poisonous snakes and touch a local nonvenemous Sonoran King Snake.
This stage in his life I need some refresher courses in parenting classes and a toddler leash!
I keep reminding myself ” My only job is to make he feels loved & special and to allow his to foster and implement self-control, empathy, love for self and others.” So, however I react will teach him something positive or negative….